Ain o Salish Kendra expresses grave concern over the continuous protests of tea workers in Habiganj’s Chunarughat upazila against the government’s plan to acquire lands for establishing a special economic zone.

Demonstrations were held as the plan had thrown the lives of as many as 16,000 tea workers into uncertainty. It has been reported by the media that the government, as part of the plan to set up special economic zone in the area, has initiated the process of taking back 511 acres of land which was leased to Duncan Brothers, a tea company.

Even though the land is owned by the government, tea workers have been living and working there for hundreds of years. Moreover, the ancestors of these workers not only inhabited the area but also worked hard to turn the infertile land into an arable one.

We think, it is necessary that locals are allowed to have a voice in any of the government’s development projects, but the plan for setting up the special economic zone was not discussed with the tea workers in Chunarughat.

Also, it is the duty of the government to assess the degree of potential loss to be faced by people in that area if the economic zone is set up, to make plans for their rehabilitation, and to arrange alternative and suitable employments for the tea workers who have been living there for ages.

We expect that the government, instead of making any hasty move, will take cautious step with adequate thoughts after holding discussions with all parties concerned in this regard.