Bangladesh: Cha Shramik Sangha demands release of leaders

Dhaka, July 6, 2014 (New Age): Leaders and activists of Cha Shramik Sangha, a front organisation of Bangladesh Trade Union Sangha, blockaded the Sylhet airport road Saturday afternoon, demanding immediate release of two arrested leaders of the organisation. Local people said Cha Shramik Sangha leaders and activists staged the demonstration on the airport road near Malnichhara Tea Garden suspending traffic on the road for about an hour. The demonstrators issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the release of BTUS district unit general secretary Rupak Das and district convener Nurul Islam Makbul of Krishak Sangram Samiti, another front organisation of BTUS. The Biman Bandar police said they resumed the traffic movement on the road at about 1:15pm dispersing the demonstrators. BTUS district president Abul Kalam alleged that the Biman Bandar police arrested Rupak Das and Nurul Islam Makbul without any specific allegation while they were returning home after attending a programme of Kalagul Tea Garden near the Sylhet airport Friday night. Biman Bandar police officer-in-charge Shah Zaman claimed that the arrested were accused in a case filed in connection with the attack on Kalagul Tea Garden workers on June 19. They were produced before the chief metropolitan magistrate court on Saturday noon and the court ordered them to be sent to jail, he added. However, tea garden workers said the BTUS leaders were trying to establish dominance over other workers’ organisations. They alleged that BTUS leaders also tried to resist them from registering their names on the voter list of Cha Shramik Union, the main forum of tea garden workers.