The workers of Barapukuria Coal Mine continued their demonstrations for the second consecutive day on Thursday at the entrance of the coal mine to press home their two-point demand including payment of eight months’ arrears. On Wednesday, the workers along with their families staged demonstrations demanding the authorities allow the workers to return to work and pay their due wages before Eid-ul-Fitr. Also read: Barapukuria coal mine workers stage demo demanding arrears The workers have been holding different programmessince March to press home their demands. Meanwhile, another 400 workers who have been working locked inside the mine compound due to Covid situation for the last two years were staging demonstrations from inside to allow them work coming from home. Robiul Islam Robi, president of Barapukuria Coal Mine Miners' and Workers' Union said,” around 11,00 local miners excavate coal from the mine under three Chinease contractor companies CMC, XMC and JXMC.” “Of them 700 were supposed to get monthly Tk 4,000 each as allowance during their lay off due to Covid-19 pandemic but in the last 8 months they neither received any allowances nor were allowed to rejoin work.” Also read: Barapukuria Coal Mine workers give 72 hour-ultimatum for payment of arrears Meanwhile, the contracting companies forced 400 workers to stay inside the mine and work without allowing them to meet their families, he said. “To resolve the crisis the administration and the mine authority have not taken any steps yet,” said Abu Sufian, General Secretary of the workers’ union.

The workers of Barapukuria Coal Mine along with their families staged demonstrations on Wednesday at the entrance of the coal mine to press home their two-point demand including payment of eight months’ arrears. According to the workers, some 700 workers are struggling as their eight months’ wages were not paid by the authorities. “Moreover, after sending them home due to Covid-19 two years have passed and the situation has become normal but they are not being allowed to join work yet,” said Abu Sufian, General Secretary of Barapukuria Coal Mine Miners' and Workers' Union. Read: Bangladesh bidi workers demand wage hike A total of 400 workers instead of 1100 are working inside the mine while the rest others were not allowed to join work. Besides, workers were also staging demonstrations in another entrance of the mine demanding to allow them to go home and work from there. On January 30, this year, coal extraction was suspended temporarily at Barapukuria Coal Mine after around 125 Bangladeshi officials and 50 Chinese officials, including the managing director tested positive for COVID-19.