31 tea estates at high risk over labour unrest

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Tuesday told Parliament that 31 tea estates across the country have been identified as “high-risk” due to labour unrest caused by unpaid wages and other worker-related grievances.

He disclosed the information while responding to a question from BNP reserved seat lawmaker Selina Sultana during the question-answer session.

Citing a special report prepared by the National Security Intelligence, the minister said the unrest was mainly linked to wage arrears in the tea gardens.

Muktadir said Bangladesh currently has no policy framework to classify tea gardens as “sick” or financially distressed. As a result, no tea estate has officially been declared a sick garden.

He said the situation changed after August 5, 2024, when owners of several tea estates reportedly abandoned their properties following the changed political circumstances, disrupting management at the gardens.

In many cases, workers’ wages were not paid regularly, triggering unrest among labourers.
According to an NSI report dated May 18, 2025, the high-risk tea estates include Tarapur, Premnagar, Bijoya, Patrakhola, Madhabpur, Madanmohanpur, Kurma, Champarai, Burjan, Chharagang, Kagagul, Gulni, Lovachhara, Lakkatura, Daldali, Keowachhara, Imam, Bawani, Noapara, Deundi, Lalchan, Chandichhara, Parkul, Satchhari, Phultala, Mathiura, Rajnagar, Azgarabad, Muraichhara, Mirtinga and Deorachhara.

The minister said the Bangladesh Tea Board had taken several measures to address labour unrest and ensure payment of workers’ wages.

He said separate committees were formed with support from the Tea Board and local district administrations to reopen the previously closed Burjan and Phultala tea estates and ensure payment of wages and other worker benefits.

Financial assistance was also provided from the Tea Board’s Labour Welfare Fund to clear outstanding wages, he added.

“Operations at Burjan and Phultala tea gardens have now returned to normal,” the minister said.
Muktadir also said special arrangements were made to export unsold tea stocks from 12 gardens under the National Tea Company, allowing authorities to pay outstanding wages to workers.

He said the government remains committed to protecting tea workers’ welfare.
In addition to wages, tea garden workers currently receive rations, free medical services, primary education, housing, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, festival allowances, pension benefits, provident fund support, maternity leave and maternity allowances, he added.

The minister said the government has started distributing Family Cards to tea worker households.
Once all tea labour families are brought under the coverage, the initiative is expected to play a significant role in improving their living standards, he said.