Sylhet tea workers went on strike to demand, among other things, land rights and a Tk 500 day pay. The Malnichhara Tea Estate in Sylhet employs hundreds of people, and on Monday, September 23, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, they stopped working.
The workers claimed that the Tk 170 daily minimum salary set by the Bangladesh Tea Association and the salary Board is against their interests.
They have rejected the suggested amount, claiming that the present income is insufficient to support their needs in light of growing living expenses. They are therefore demanding a rise in pay of Tk 500 per day.
The laborers further emphasized that, despite having lived in Bangladesh for many generations and making a substantial contribution to the development and output of the tea business, they are still not legally entitled to the land. They also asked for the legal recognition of their land rights.
