News Desk :
The leaders of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation urged an initiative to save the bidi industry and prevent the workers from falling into unemployment.
They made the demand from a discussion meeting held at the journalist Abdus Salam Auditorium of the National Press Club on Monday, reports UNB.
The speakers said, “Thousands of bidi workers, including the helpless, disadvantaged, extremely poor, physically-handicapped and widows, make a living by working in the ancient labor-intensive bidi industry of the country.”
But the industry is being destroyed by the conspiracy of foreign multinational companies, they said.
“Some corrupt local officials are taking advantage of foreign multinational
companies and imposing excessive taxes on bidis. Bidi owners are being forced to close the factory as they cannot bear the tax burden,” they said.
As a result, the workers are unemployed and living a dehumanized life.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation Abdur Rahman was present as the chief guest. The meeting was chaired by Md. Harik Hossain, Joint General Secretary of the Federation.
Md. Lokman Hakim and Nazim Uddin Vice-Presidents of the Federation, organizing secretary Abdul Gafur, Publicity Secretary Shamim Islam, Executive Member Anwar Hossain, among others, spoke in the function.
