The workers of Barapukuria Coal Mine along with their families staged demonstrations recently at the entrance of the coal mine to press home their two-point demand including payment of eight months’ arrears.
According to the workers, some 700 workers are struggling as their eight months’ wages were not paid by the authorities.
‘Moreover, after sending them home due to Covid-19 two years have passed and the situation has become normal but they are not being allowed to join work yet,’ said Abu Sufian, general secretary of Barapukuria Coal Mine Miners’ and Workers’ Union.
A total of 400 workers instead of 1100 are working inside the mine while the rest were not allowed to join work.
Besides, workers were also staging demonstrations at another entrance of the mine demanding that they should be allowed to go home and work from there.
On January 30, this year, coal extraction was suspended temporarily at Barapukuria Coal Mine after around 125 Bangladeshi officials and 50 Chinese officials, including the managing director tested positive for Covid-19.
