A new organization is emerging in the movement of tea workers to demand increase in wages. This organization is being formed by rejecting the leaders of the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union in the ongoing strike. A discussion meeting has started today Thursday at Kalighat tea garden in Moulvibazar, Srimangal, for the formation of the committee of the new organization named ‘Tea Workers’ Rights Parishad’.
Today at one o’clock in the Kalighat tea garden, the meeting started in the Natmandap of the Durga temple. It is said that the committee will be formed with priority given to Panchayat leaders and youth in the new organization.Earlier, in response to the call of Kalighat Tea Garden Panchayat President Avan Tanti, Kalighat Tea Garden, Zerin Tea Garden, Longla Tea Garden, Gandhichra Tea Garden, Hooghly Rhama Tea Garden, Amrail Rhama Tea Garden, Bhurbhuria Tea Garden started from morning. Workers from various tea gardens including Bagan, Kharuraura tea garden, Dakchara tea garden, Khai Rham tea garden, Laskarpur tea garden, Rajghat tea garden, Khejuri tea garden, Lakhai tea garden, Bilashchhara came to the meeting place. About three thousand people attended the meeting.Several Bagan Panchayat presidents present at the meeting said that public representatives, garden owners and government officials have stepped up to thwart their struggle to get their demands. The ordinary workers rejected the leaders of the Central Committee of the Tea Workers Union. Central leaders asked them to stop their agitation. Now they are continuing their agitation and struggle separately in different tea gardens. In this situation, he is going to form a committee called ‘Tea-Shramik Odhikar Parishad’ to continue the movement properly. All the programs will be announced by tea garden panchayat, tea workers and youth.
To inquire about this new organization, General Secretary (Acting) of the Central Committee of the Tea Workers Union called Nipen Pal several times on his cell phone, but he did not pick up.Meanwhile, on the 13th day of the strike, all the tea gardens of Srimangal Upazila have stopped working. Meetings can be seen in different tea gardens from morning. The students boycotted classes for two hours and held a protest meeting at the Khajuri Rima tea garden demanding that the wages of the workers be increased to 300 rupees.
It is to be noted that the tea workers are going on strike for four days and two hours from August 9 and then from August 13 for an indefinite period across the country. The Central Committee of the Tea Workers Union called off the strike after discussing with the administration, but the common workers did not accept it. The high-ranking officials of the administration are requesting the workers to join the work by visiting the gardens.
