Workers of 18 tea gardens belonging to the state-owned National Tea Corporation (NTC) continued their strike for the seventh day today (October 27) demanding salaries that have not been paid for the last six weeks in Sylhet, Moulvibazar and Habiganj.

Workers of Lakkatura tea garden, whose daily wage is only Tk 178, demonstrated by blocking Osmani airport road in Ambarkhana area of ​​Sylhet city this afternoon. Two hours later they lifted the blockade and gave the company a two-day ultimatum.

Raju Goala, president of Tea Workers Union in Sylhet Valley, said, “We are yet to receive one and a half months’ salary. More than one lakh workers are living a miserable life without getting wages.”

Sajib Munda, a worker in Sylhet’s Daldali tea garden, said, “If we don’t get paid, our families cannot survive. Shops no longer give us food on credit. We are living on scraps now.”

The protesting workers said they have been protesting since Durga Puja, which took place earlier this month, demanding payment of outstanding salaries and bonuses. The authorities gave them bonuses for their actions, but salaries have not yet been paid.

Workers recently submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Sylhet demanding unpaid wages. Later, the district administration distributed 20 kg of rice to each worker’s family. However, they have not received any help since then.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, all directors of the National Tea Corporation resigned, leading to a stalemate in the company. Salaries, allowances and wages of all employees and workers in the company yard have been stopped. Garden workers were most affected by this situation.

Akhter Shahid, manager of Lakkatura tea garden, said, “We, like the workers, are experiencing great difficulties because we cannot receive our salaries. However, I heard that the problem will be solved soon.”

Speaking to The Business Standard, National Tea Company General Manager Emdadul Haque said, “The management has changed. So, it takes some time to bring the general situation under control. We hope that the issue of unpaid wages will be resolved in a few days. The problem of tea workers will be resolved.”