Sylhet Bureau :
The Lovachhara Load-Unload Workers Union has accused the Lovachhara Stone Quarry in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet of carrying out activities against the interests of workers. They say that a circular blueprint is being implemented by violating the rights of workers and the workers are being deprived due to the lack of effective initiatives from the administration. Along with this, irregularities and looting are also going on in the revenue sector.
The leaders of the workers’ union raised these allegations at a press conference at the Sylhet Press Club on Wednesday.
In a written statement, the organization’s president, Md. Akhtar Hossain, said that this union, registered with the Sylhet regional branch of the Department of Labor, has been working in the interests of workers for a long time. But recently, various processes are being carried out excluding the workers at the Lovachhara stone quarry. This is disrupting the employment, wages and security of the workers.
The leaders raised 8-point demands at the conference. The demands include: operating a mobile court of the labor court to ensure a safe working environment, paying 49 million taka to the workers’ welfare fund as compensation for the reduction in labor due to technology, returning about 3 million taka embezzled from every inch, returning the seized boats to the workers, withdrawing the executive members of the subcommittee, UNO, ACLAND and Tahsildar, cooperation from the administration in implementing the labor policy, permanently closing the Felutar excavator and taking legal action to recover the embezzled 70 million taka.
The leaders also said that about 10,000 workers have become unemployed due to the long-term closure of the quarry. Although work opportunities have been created for the workers by removing the seized stones sold through the government’s auction, in reality they are not getting that opportunity. Although the removal of stones began on May 25, there were no formalities for the workers. Then, on June 3, the workers held a demonstration and protest meeting in Mulagul Nayabazar to protest against not giving work to the workers, depriving them of fair wages and collecting illegal royalties from the Barki boats.
They said that although the government has set a 45-day deadline for removing stones, the workers are not being given the opportunity to work. After sending a letter to the business association on June 15 to ensure the rights and wages of the workers, the discussion was scheduled for June 25. But two days before that, the terrorist forces of Kanaighat Upazila Awami League treasurer M Tamiz Uddin foiled the discussion by threatening them. Later, on July 17, Akhtar Hossain filed a complaint at the police station, but no action was taken by the administration.
The labor leaders further alleged that on July 31, 120 to 130 terrorists led by M Tamiz Uddin attacked a stone-carrying ballgate belonging to one Saiful Alam in the Bhalukmara Ghat area. At that time, workers Sultan, Shahid and Salman were tied up and brutally beaten. Even then, the administration is playing a silent role.
The organization’s acting general secretary Mohammad Ali and member Salman Ahmed were present at the press conference. They demanded a quick solution to the problem and effective intervention by the administration.
