Protesters threaten indefinite strike if demands not met by July 5

Sylhet Bureau :

Stone-related traders and workers in Sylhet have issued a final ultimatum to the authorities, announcing a transport strike starting Saturday, July 5, if their five-point demands—including the reopening of closed stone quarries—are not met by Friday.

The announcement came during a protest rally at Court Point in Sylhet city on Wednesday afternoon. The gathering, organized by the Stone Owner-Worker Unity Council, drew support from various professional and social organizations, as well as political figures.

Former Sylhet Mayor and BNP Chairperson’s Advisor Ariful Haque Chowdhury attended the rally, expressing full solidarity with the demonstrators. “The demands of workers and owners are just and logical,” he stated. “If the government fails to take prompt action, Sylhet’s economy will come to a standstill. We must protect both the environment and livelihoods.”

The Five-Point Demands are included, immediate reopening of all closed stone quarries, halt the destruction of stone crusher machines, stop arrests and harassment of trucks transporting stones, end the abuse and torture of drivers by law enforcement, removal of the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner, citing administrative high-handedness.

Speakers accused the administration of taking unilateral decisions under a so-called “zero tolerance” policy, claiming it has devastated the local stone trade and thrown thousands of workers into uncertainty. They warned that unless the government reverses course, the transport strike could evolve into an indefinite shutdown across Sylhet division.

The protest follows a series of enforcement drives by the local administration. Acting on the recommendations of Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, and Muhammad Fauzul Kabir Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Power and Energy, the administration launched operations to shut down illegal stone crushing.