Rubber garden workers on strike for over a month
The piecemeal tapping workers of five rubber gardens under Madhupur Zone of Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation have been continuing strike for over one month for realising their four-point demand.
Production at the gardens has remained suspended and the offices have remained closed during the period.
The demands are designating workers in the tapping and rubber processing factories as permanent employees, introducing monthly wage system for the workers based on muster roll, paying monthly salary of Tk 15,000 to factory workers based on muster roll, and paving the roads of the gardens with bricks.
Around 1,600 workers of Pirgachha, Chandpur and Kamlapur rubber gardens at Madhupur upazila of Tangail, Santoshpur rubber garden at Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh and Karnojhara rubber garden at Shreebordi upazila of Sherpur under Madhupur Zone have been on strike since October 13.
The agitating workers have been holding programmes, including processions and rallies, everyday.
They demonstrated at a playground adjacent to Pirgachha rubber garden on Saturday and held a rally there.
Pirgachha Piecemeal Tapping Workers Union Vice President Mokhlesur Rahman, General Secretary Mizanur Rahman, Joint Secretary Billal Hossain and Organising Secretary Hafizur Rahman, spoke at the rally, with union President Saiful Islam Sanu in the chair.
Narrating the inhuman lives of the rubber garden workers, speakers urged the authorities concerned to meet their demands immediately. They also threatened to continue their movement until the demands are met.
Madhupur Upazila Parishad Chairman Sarwar Alam Khan Abu, Vice-Chairman Helal Uddin, Madhupur Municipality Mayor Masud Parvez, Mirzabari Union Parishad Chairman Shajahan Ali Talukder and Aronkhola Union Parishad Chairman Abdur Rahim also spoke at the rally, expressing their solidarity with the demands of the agitating rubber garden workers.
General Manager of Madhupur Zone Waliur Rahman said that they do not have authority to meet the demands. "I have already informed the higher authorities about the situation," he added.
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