Tea workers in Southgul Tea Garden in Barlekha, Moulvibazar, held a work stoppage, human chain and protest rally on Sunday, demanding implementation of a 500-taka daily wage and four other measures. Workers, students and youths joined the programme under the banner of tea workers, students and youths of the garden. They stopped work from 9am to 10:30am before returning to their duties.

The protesters also demanded a free, fair and neutral election of the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union without intervention by the Labour Department, guaranteed land rights for workers, and withdrawal of a 5 percent increment. They brought out a procession from the Bhairabtali Bridge area, marched through roads inside the garden and concluded at the factory gate, where they formed a human chain and held a roadside meeting.

Garden Panchayat Committee president Raman Chandra Ghosh chaired the meeting. Other speakers included vice-president Parbati Phulmali, general secretary Nurul Islam, publicity secretary Jugal Phulmali, and workers Suman Ghosh and Nayan Mridha. Workers said the garden has lacked adequate medicine for more than two years and has no doctor, forcing ill workers to pay for treatment themselves. Leaders urged prompt implementation of the demands.