‘Where is our welfare fund?’

Over one hundred transport workers formed a human chain in Lalmonirhat's bus stand area this noon demanding financial assistance from their welfare fund amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

They chanted "where is our welfare fund?" and demanded getting back the money they had been depositing for long.

The workers alleged that they were not getting any help in this crisis.

Around 8,000 transport workers and their families in Lalmonirhat have been passing days in hardship since bus services were suspended on March 26, the workers said.

"Usually, transport workers do not get any fixed salary. So we used to deposit a small portion of our money in a welfare fund for emergencies," Rony Islam, a transport worker in Lalmonirhat town, said.

"But during these hard times, we are not getting help," he added.

Asadaul Islam, another transport worker, said, "No one, not even the owners' association or the workers' union, have come forward to help us in this time of distress."

"BNP-backed transport workers formed the human chain," claimed Amirul Islam, president of Lalmonirhat District Bus-Minibus Workers' Union.

"We have already provided food assistance that includes five kg rice, one kg pulse and half litre edible oil to 250 workers," he said.

Bulbul Ahmed, general secretary of the organisation, claimed, "The deposited money in the welfare fund have been spent for the welfare of workers during different periods."