Protecting bidi industry from aggression of BAT demanded in Kushtia

Business Desk :
Kushtia Bidi Sramik Sangram Parishad on Wednesday staged demonstration in the district town demanding to protect the bidi industry from the aggression of foreign multinational companies and to reduce tariffs on bidis in the 2023-24 fiscal year’s budget.
Around Thousand workers under the banner of Kushtia Bidi Sramik Sangram Parishad demonstrated in front of Kushtia Public Library premises around 10:30 am to press home their demands, a press release said.
Their demands were reduction of tariff from Tk 18 to Tk 16 on bidis in the forthcoming 2023-24 budget, increasing the wages of bidi workers, stopping of low quality cigarettes of British American Tobacco and stopping the aggression of British American Tobacco.
The labor leaders, later, handed over a memorandum to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Kushtia.
Nazim Uddin, Vice-President of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation, presided over the demonstration.
Conducted by its Joint-Secretary Harik Hossain, General Secretary of Kushtia District Awami League M Azgar Ali was present as the chief guest. Ataur Rahman Ata, Chairman of Kushtia Sador Upzilla was present as the special guest while Abdur Rahman, General Secretary of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation spoke as the keynote speaker.
Kushtia District Awami League Labor Affairs Secretary Golam Mostafa, Kushtia District Sramik League President Anarul Haque, Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation Acting President Amin Uddin (BSc), Organizing Secretary Abdul Gafir, Bidi Sramik Leader Chad Ali and among others were present as special guests.
Addressing the demo, the speakers said, Millions of workers make a living by working in the bidi sector. But the country’s ancient labor-intensive industry is being destroyed by the conspiracy of foreign multinational companies.