Moulvibazar tea workers go on indefinite strike
Over 100 workers of Ayeshabagh Tea Garden in Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar went on an indefinite strike on Friday morning to press home their seven-point demand, including the permission for cultivating paddy.
Since 2014, their demands have included the right to plant trees adjacent to the house, cattle farming and vegetable cultivation, payment of festival bonus arrears, establishing schools in tea gardens, and ensuring sanitation and pure water.
Moni Bauri, a worker of the garden, said: “We have been asking the manager for a long time to satisfy our demands. We have also written to him. Yet, the authorities did not take any steps, which is why we have decided to go on strike.”
Meanwhile, a meeting was held between the garden council and the garden authorities on Friday morning, but they could not reach any solution.
Ajit Bunarji, president of the garden’s panchayat committee, said: “We have submitted our seven-point demand and will continue our strike until our demands are met.” Manager of the garden Mizanur Rahman said: “We are discussing the workers’ demands with the owner.”