The chief organiser of National Citizens Committee Sarjis Alam has strongly criticized the former government, claiming that her focus was limited to Dhaka and her ancestral home in Tungipara, disregarding the needs of the rest of the country, including the tea industry.
Speaking at a tea workers' rally at Kurma Tea Garden at Islampur union of Kamalganj Sadar upazila on Sunday, Sarjis accused the ruling family of exploiting the tea sector for their own benefit.
The rally, organized by the Panchayat Committee and the Tea-Students Youth Union, was held under the banner "Open all closed tea gardens immediately. Take effective measures to protect workers and the tea industry, ensure humane wages, education, health, housing, and employment." Dhona Bauri, president of the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union, Monu-Dholai Valley, chaired the event.
Sarjis further stated that no more liquor permits should be issued in tea gardens and urged the workers to destroy the existing ones. He also emphasized that tea workers have long suffered under a system of exploitation, particularly under the regime of 'Gopali Hasina', which he claims has failed to address the real issues of the workers.
The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Sarwar Tushar, joint convener of the National Citizens Committee, and Pritam Das, central organizer of the committee. Special guests included Shyamli Sultana Janni, Asadullah Galib, and Yusuf Khan, the assistant manager of the Kurma Tea Garden. The rally also featured speeches by tea worker leaders, such as Khairun Akhter, Gita Rani Kanu, and Janatul Jemi, coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement.
The speakers at the rally voiced their concerns about the closure of tea gardens and the ongoing exploitation of tea workers. They demanded immediate action to reopen all closed tea gardens and improve the living conditions of workers, including better wages, housing, education, and healthcare.
Pritam Das, a tea worker's son and a central organizer, emphasized the long-standing exploitation of tea workers and the need for systemic change in the tea industry to ensure a better life for these workers.
The rally concluded with a strong call for the government to take responsibility for the tea industry's future and the well-being of its workers.
