Sylhet tea workers bring out torch procession demanding dues

Tea workers in Sylhet brought out a torch procession in Lakkatura in Sylhet to press home their five-point demand, including clearance of their dues for three months.

The workers, under the banner of Bangladesh Tea Worker Federation and Tea Garden Education Right Implementation Council, jointly brought out the torch procession yesterday evening.

The procession started from Lakkatura Rest Camp Bazar, paraded key roads, including Airport Road, and ended at the starting point.

The demands include the payment of outstanding dues to workers under the National Tea Corporation and the resumption of production in previously closed tea gardens. 

They also call for fixing a daily wage of Tk500 for tea workers, cancelling discriminatory provisions in the labour law, and halting new projects on tea garden land while ensuring land rights for workers. Additionally, the tea workers are demanding immediate steps to hold the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union Election.

Leaders and workers from Bangladesh Tea Workers Federation, Sylhet spoke at the meeting.

The speakers said the tea workers have not received their wages for the past three months. They added that following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, seven directors, including Sheikh Kabir, resigned from the National Tea Corporation (NTC).

Kabir operated as the chief of 23 organisations by abusing his power, and different allegations including looting were brought against him, they said.

After the fall of the government, the respective banks failed to provide loans, leaving the disbursement of the wages and ration of the workers in uncertainty.

Tea workers in Sylhet have been staging demonstrations for the past several days demanding clearing of their outstanding dues.