Habiganj, Oct 29 (V7N) – Workers from four tea gardens in Habiganj have continued their work stoppage for a second consecutive day, demanding payment of their wages. Labour leaders have warned that they may besiege the Secretariat in Dhaka if their demands remain unmet.
A protest rally and discussion meeting were held in front of the temple at Lalchand Tea Garden in Chunarughat upazila on Wednesday afternoon, October 28. Workers from Lalchand, Deundi, Gilani and Noapara tea gardens attended the programme, presided over by Lal Santhal.
Speakers included Apon Santhal, president of the panchayat committee at Deundi Tea Garden; Comet Nayek, president of the panchayat committee at Noapara Tea Garden; Union Parishad member Dulal Ghosh; Kartik Bakti; Laxmikanta Roy; and Ujjal Kumar Das, a labour leader at Deundi Tea Garden.
Addressing the gathering, labour leaders said the workers had stopped work because their wage-related demands had not been resolved. They said their principal demand was a change of ownership, declaring that they no longer wanted to work under the current owners.
The leaders announced that the work stoppage would continue until their demands were met.
They also said they would stage a human chain in front of the Habiganj Deputy Commissioner's Office next Sunday and submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner outlining their grievances and demands.
The workers warned that the movement would be intensified if the authorities and the owners failed to resolve the dispute promptly. They said a programme to besiege the Secretariat could be organised in Dhaka if necessary.
The continuing work stoppage has placed pressure on the management of the four tea gardens to address the workers' wage grievances. No immediate response from the garden owners was included in the available report.
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