S.A Shofiee,Sylhet :
Female stone breakers at different stone crushing yards in Companigonj upazila of the district have been reportedly working amid wage discrimination and vulnerable condition.
It was learnt that extreme poverty prevailed there compelled them to adopt the risky path because of not having any alternative ways and means to survive.
One upon a time, although poverty had dominated in the area, the present state is wholly different as remarkable development steps taken the successive governments have contributed vastly to eliminate the vicious circle. The changes particularly included tea plantation, stone crushing yards and agriculture.
The stones are taken from the Dholai & Pian river and adjacent areas as well as from India and Nepal.
There are at least 5,000 workers in the yards and half of them are women.
Dr. Abdun Nur, president of Stone Crushers’ and Earth Cutting Labourers’ Association, acknowledged the sorry state of the female workers, saying there are about 1,000 stone business spots in the district, where most of the workers are women. ‘They are doing risky jobs and do not get any health support from the owners when they physically unable to do the heavy tasks,’ he continued.
One worker named Khatun, mother of four children, hailing from Companigonj had to adopt the profession being failed to find any alternative ones as her husband died five years ago.
Khatun said she gets Tk200 daily while the figure in case of her male colleague is Tk300. She alleged that they have been deprived despite giving equal output like the male workers.
Another worker named Selina Begum from Goainghat area echoed the voice of Selina, adding that she has been bearing the cost of her sick husband and four children. Their common disease is usual pain in the body, they went on.
Companigonj UNO said although the financial condition of women has improved a little bit owing to the stone crushing yards, but the wages paid to them is poor.
Besides, they were working without safety measures in dust produced during the stone crushing and that was why they have been afflicted with various types of diseases.
Farmers bear the brunt of non-stop blockade
Because of destructive activities and transportation crisis wholesalers and businessmen of Sylhet districts are not being able to come to haats (bazars). Farmers are counting losses selling their products to middlemen and local businessmen at lower prices. There have been good harvests. Still farmers are unhappy because of losses due to continuous blockade.
They allege that because of blockade wholesalers and big businessmen are not being able to come to haats and bazaars. Taking advantage of this, middlemen and local businessmen are buying paddy at prices on their own whims. And because of necessity, farmers are selling their produces at lower prices and incurring losses.
Vegetable cultivators and businessmen of Sylhet said supply of vegetables to Sylhet from Northern districts has reduced. From those districts hundreds of trucks arrive in the Sylhet every day. Middlemen are not taking risk of carrying vegetables during blockade period. For fear of arson attacks truck owners too are not agreeing to let out trucks.
