Habiganj tea workers on strike demanding cancellation of SEZ

Around 15,000 workers from four tea gardens in Chunarughat upazila of Habiganj continued an indefinite strike for the second consecutive day today demanding cancellation of the special economic zone (SEZ).

The tea garden workers from Chandpur Tea Garden, Begum Khan Tea Garden, Juel Bhanga Tea Garden and Ram Gonga Tea Garden went on work abstention from yesterday.

They also threatened to start a hunger strike, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent.

Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to avoid any confrontations, said Amulya Kumar Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Chunarughat Police Station.

The government has decided to develop five special economic zones across the country, one in Habiganj, under Chandpur area of Chunarughat Upazila its Economic Zones Development Project of 512 acres land to attract both foreign and domestic investments.

Once the project is implemented, the workers will lose their residence and farming land, Shapon Shawtal, advisor of the tea labour union central unit, told The Daily Star.