Habiganj tea workers agitate for arrears
Wages, food rations stopped for two months
Workers of Baikunthapur Tea Garden in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj yesterday formed a human chain demanding payment of their last two months' due wages and food ration.
About 2000 family members of over 400 permanent workers of the garden formed the human chain in front of the office of Madhabpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) yesterday morning.
Due to the food crisis most of the workers' families are passing their days half-fed and fell sick, Bangladesh Tea Labour Union's Baikunthapur unit Presidnet Ram Nath Keut said.
They are also not getting proper treatments as the lone hospital of the garden remained closed for the last six months, he said.
Sources said although the workers are plucking the tea leaves, the owner of the factory kept its tea production unit closed since June 6 due to unknown reason, Ram Nath added.
Makhan Lal Karmakar, central president of the union, said the owner of the garden gave assurance to the workers they would settle the matter before July 25 which they did not keep.
Madhabpur UNO Rashedul Islam said they are trying to contact the owner of the factory and settle the issue as early as possible.