NHRC chief against economic zone in Habiganj tea estate

National Human Rights Commission chairman, Dr Mizanur Rahman, has urged the government not to build a special economic zone (SEZ), replacing a village of tea plantation workers.
Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled “Human Rights Among the Indigenous Tea-garden Labourers and Socio-economic Development”, at the National Press Club, yesterday, organised by the Indigenous Social Development Organisation (ISDO), Dr Mizan said, “The state always flexes muscle before the underprivileged. It should show its ability to save land from the land grabbers, rather than decide to uproot the poor tea plantation workers, who have been living in that area for generations.”
Different tea plantation workers’ unions held a rally protesting against the proposed SEZ on farmland, at Chandpur Plantation in Habiganj.
“The tea workers earn only Tk 69 a day, which is a clear violation of human rights. The government must pay attention towards the people, who are generating revenue for the state’s economy. The poor tea workers’ livelihood depends on the farmland in the plantation area,” the NHRC chairman said.
“The government should consider the appeal of the tea-plantation workers and ensure basic human rights and wage for them. The government should not consider building an SEZ on the farmland where hundreds grow crop, to eke out a living,” Dr Mizan said.
Workers Party general secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP, eminent columnist and journalist, Syed Abul Maksud, National Indigenous Coalition secretary-general, Prof. Mesbah Kamal, spoke at the occasion, among others.
Speaking at the meeting, Fazle Hossain Badsha said, “It's good that the government will build an SEZ, but why should poor people suffer for it? Who is to benefit from such economic development? If the government wants to bring benefits to all, it should build the SEZ at the Baridhara high-end zone.”
According to columnist Maksud, the tea workers are among the most deprived in Bangladesh. “They live in hardship. The proposal to set up an SEZ, where these people have been residing for generations, smacks of ill motive.”
Speaking at the occasion, Mehbah Kamal, said, “Unity is the true strength of the workers. The tea workers earn a paltry Tk. 69 a day, working from morning to evening, which has made them an angry and frustrated. They are uniting against this unfairness.”

 

NHRC chief against economic zone in Habiganj tea estate

National Human Rights Commission chairman, Dr Mizanur Rahman, has urged the government not to build a special economic zone (SEZ), replacing a village of tea plantation workers. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion meeting titled Human Rights Among the Indigenous Tea-garden Labourers and Socio-economic Development, at the National Press Club, yesterday, organised by the Indigenous Social Development Organisation (ISDO), Dr Mizan said, The state always flexes muscle before the underprivileged. It should show its ability to save land from the land grabbers, rather than decide to uproot the poor tea plantation workers, who have been living in that area for generations. Different tea plantation workers unions held a rally protesting against the proposed SEZ on farmland, at Chandpur Plantation in Habiganj. The tea workers earn only Tk 69 a day, which is a clear violation of human rights. The government must pay attention towards the people, who are generating revenue for the states economy. The poor tea workers livelihood depends on the farmland in the plantation area, the NHRC chairman said. The government should consider the appeal of the tea-plantation workers and ensure basic human rights and wage for them. The government should not consider building an SEZ on the farmland where hundreds grow crop, to eke out a living, Dr Mizan said. Workers Party general secretary Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP, eminent columnist and journalist, Syed Abul Maksud, National Indigenous Coalition secretary-general, Prof. Mesbah Kamal, spoke at the occasion, among others. Speaking at the meeting, Fazle Hossain Badsha said, Its good that the government will build an SEZ, but why should poor people suffer for it? Who is to benefit from such economic development? If the government wants to bring benefits to all, it should build the SEZ at the Baridhara high-end zone. According to columnist Maksud, the tea workers are among the most deprived in Bangladesh. They live in hardship. The proposal to set up an SEZ, where these people have been residing for generations, smacks of ill motive. Speaking at the occasion, Mehbah Kamal, said, Unity is the true strength of the workers. The tea workers earn a paltry Tk. 69 a day, working from morning to evening, which has made them an angry and frustrated. They are uniting against this unfairness.