Photo: Collected
Around 15,000 tea garden workers in Habiganj and Moulvibazar have been facing a severe financial crisis as they have gone three weeks without wages, while their provident fund contributions have reportedly remained unpaid for 47 months.
Demanding payment of their outstanding wages and other dues, workers from the Deundi, Lalchand, Noapara, Gelani and Mirtinga tea estates and units formed human chains in front of the offices of the deputy commissioners in Habiganj and Moulvibazar today (1 Nov, 2026).
The workers later submitted memorandums to the deputy commissioners, outlining five demands, including payment of wage arrears, deposit of provident fund contributions and restoration of medical facilities.
According to the memorandums, each worker is owed around Tk 4,000 in arrears. The total outstanding amount for approximately 15,000 workers at the five estates is estimated at Tk 6 crore. The workers also alleged that their own provident fund contributions deducted from their wages and the corresponding contributions from the management had not been deposited for 47 months, depriving them of their entitled benefits.
They further said medical services at the estates had deteriorated significantly due to a halt in medicine supplies. Construction of workers' houses, repairs to existing homes and maintenance of doors, windows and roofs have also remained suspended.
Apon Santal, president of the Deundi Tea Company workers’ panchayat, said workers had staged several rounds of protests and work stoppages at the tea estates, but the authorities had failed to take effective steps to resolve the crisis.
“That is why we formed human chains outside the deputy commissioners’ offices and submitted memorandums outlining our demands. If our demands are not met, we will launch a stronger movement,” he added.
Contacted, Md Riaz Uddin, manager of Deundi Tea Company, said the company had been unable to secure bank loans since 2017. He said the estates had suffered significant losses, including a fire that destroyed a factory, but banks had not provided the necessary financial support or engaged in meaningful discussions with the company.
The company was trying to resolve the crisis as soon as possible, he added. Md Sohag Ahmed, acting manager of Noapara Tea Estate, acknowledged that three weeks' wages and allowances remained unpaid. He said the authorities had sought more time from the workers and were taking steps to clear the dues.
Md Fakrul Islam Faridi, manager of Lalchand Tea Estate, said the factory had been destroyed in a fire and the company had been unable to secure bank loans since 2018 despite repeated attempts. He said the company had managed to pay the workers' festival bonuses and was trying to arrange funds to pay the outstanding wages.
Habiganj Deputy Commissioner GM Sarfaraz said he would consult higher authorities to resolve the issue.
“I will soon hold discussions with the concerned authorities to find out why this situation has arisen and how it can be resolved,” he said.
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Source: Online/GFMM
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