Habiganj, Nov 04 (V7N) – Thousands of tea workers and their families in five tea gardens in Madhabpur and Chunarughat upazilas of Habiganj have been facing a severe food crisis after ration distribution remained suspended for nine consecutive days.

The crisis has deepened amid ongoing work stoppages and workers’ complaints over unpaid wages, rations, provident fund contributions and other outstanding dues.

Against this backdrop, Syed Shafqat Ahmed, managing director of Sayham Knit Composite and son of Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) MP Alhaj Syed Mohammad Faisal, has stepped forward to support the workers.

On Tuesday, November 3, he began distributing 17 tonnes of rice among 3,400 workers from the five tea gardens using his personal funds. Each worker’s family received five kilograms of rice.

The gardens receiving assistance are Noapara in Madhabpur and Lalchand, Raghunandan, Deundi and Gilani in Chunarughat.

Those involved in the initiative said it was undertaken on humanitarian grounds to support families struggling amid the crisis.

Workers’ normal lives have been disrupted by the prolonged work stoppage. With their earnings suspended and ration supplies halted, many families have been struggling to arrange food. Labour leaders said some households were surviving on inadequate meals or going without food.

On Sunday, workers submitted a written application to the Habiganj deputy commissioner, demanding that the gardens be reopened and their outstanding wages, rations, provident fund contributions and other dues be paid. However, labour leaders said there had been no visible progress on the application so far. They also alleged that the owners had taken no effective steps to address the workers’ demands.

Tea worker leader Khelu Nayek said the work stoppage had continued for nine days and that the owners had yet to take steps to clear outstanding ration and wage payments or provident fund dues.

“At a time of severe food shortages, Syed Shafqat Ahmed has come forward with rice for the workers. His assistance has brought considerable relief to these helpless families,” he said.

Riaz Uddin, deputy general manager of Deundi Company, said the company was making strenuous efforts to secure a bank loan.

“If we receive the loan, we will be able to resolve the ongoing problems in the gardens. We are currently facing a severe shortage of funds due to various circumstances,” he said.

Nripen Pal, acting general secretary of the Bangladesh Tea Workers’ Union, called for urgent intervention by the district administration to resolve the deadlock.

He said the authorities should hold discussions with the owners and workers to ensure payment of outstanding dues and reopen the gardens, warning that the workers’ food crisis could become more severe without prompt action.

The workers are demanding immediate payment of their overdue wages, rations and other benefits, along with the reopening of the gardens. They fear their hardship will deepen if the situation remains unresolved.

END/MMA/SMA/