Bidi workers describe budget people-oriented

Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation has held a Press Conference to respond to the proposed budget for the proposed 2026-27 fiscal year.

The Press Conference on Monday was held at Hall Room of the Rangpur Public library. At the Meeting, the labor leaders expressed their congratulations, thanks, and gratitude to the Prime Minister for not increasing the tariff on bidis in the proposed budget.

Bidi Workers placed a three-point charter of demands. Their demands are stopping low quality cigarettes of foreign multinational companies, increasing the wages of bidi workers and stopping production and sale of fake bidis.

Amin Uddin BSc, President of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation read a written statement at the press conference. In a written statement, he said that the main competitor of bidi is low quality cigarettes. Currently, 80 percent to 85 percent of the cigarette market is low. Most of these low quality cigarettes are owned by foreign companies.

Millions of workers including the helpless, disadvantaged, extremely poor, physically handicapped and widows 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. Amin Uddin also said some unfair traders are making fake bidis and marketing them to evade the tariff, depriving the government of huge revenue.

He urged the customs authorities to take necessary steps to halt unlawful bidi manufacturers and counterfeit bidi.

Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation President Vice President Nazim Uddin, Anawor Hossain, Jonit Secretary Abdul Gafur, Abul Hasnat Lavlu, Organising Secretary Shamim Islam were also present there, among others.