Monday | 7 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
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Monday | 7 October 2024 | Epaper

Natuarpara, a human haat that sells labour

Published : Sunday, 24 June, 2018 at 12:00 AM  Count : 684
Ashok Benarjee
SIRAJGANJ, June 23: Natuarpara Haat is located in Kazipur Upazila of the district. It is popular for labour selling. Generally, goods are sold in exchange of money in other haats, but labour is sold in this haat.
While entering the haat few days back, it is seen that some people are sitting there with bamboo-made bags. They are day-labourers. They throng there to sell their labour for their livelihood. They came here together. The land owners are hiring them after bargaining.
Not only Natuarpara Haat, labour haats are also seen in  Alampur, Kumaria Bari, Panagari, Ratankandi and Sonamukhi areaa of Kazipur Upazila. From these haats, 50 to 100 labourers are selling their labour everyday. It will continue for the next  two months.
According to field sources, many crops including jute, sesame seeds, chilli and groundnut are cultivated in different char areas of Kazipur Upazila. The labourers are needed to harvest the crops. So the labourers come from different parts of the country to sell their labour. They return after work. The labourers come to the haat everyday to sell labour in the season though Natuarpara Haat sits every Thursday. The labourers come to the haat from Rangpur, Kurigram, Jamalpur, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhaat, Dinajpur, Bogra and Sirajganj ignoring hot sun and rain.
If the labourers do not get proper price, they take shelter in nearby mosques, madrasas or schools, hoping that they will be hired the next day.
Abdur Rashid of Bijril Village of Nandigram Upazila of Bogra said he along with his six co-workers came to Natuapara Haat together on Thursday. Six others went to work at the cost of Tk 300. He is waiting for fair  wages.
"There is no work at our place in the season, so we come here to work in groundnut and sesame field and cut soil; we will return home after saving some money", he said.
Dudu Miah of Rangpur said he has nine members in his team. He comes to the area every year. After working in the groundnut and sesame field for 10-15 days, he will return home.
Fazlul Haque of Banshpata Village of Dhunat Upazila of Bogra said there are eight persons in his team. Muklesur Rahman, Quddus, Sohrab Hossain, Golam Hossain, Saidul Islam, Hibibur Rahman and Jahirul Islam of the same area came to Natuarpara for two days.
He also said everyone knows that the labourers are available in Natuarpara Haat. So he has been coming here for the last five years.
Farmer Amir Hossain of Majnabari Village of Kazipur Upazila said "I bought five labourers at the rate of Tk 300. I will have to provide them with food thrice a day".
He also said "There are no sufficient labourers in our area. At the same time, we need experienced labourers for cutting crops in the char areas. The work qualities of labourers, who come to Natuapara Haat from North Bengal, are good.






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