Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (September 3, 2022) asked all to remain vigilant so that the local tea industry is not harmed. “Our tea industry is crucial for us, it is a foreign exchange earning crop. So this industry must not be harmed; it must flourish,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while exchanging views with tea workers from Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet and Chattogram areas through video conference from her official residence Ganabhaban.   She said that the Awami League government has always worked for betterment of the tea workers and to expand the tea estates. Also read: Sylhet tea workers join work after 19 days of strike She mentioned that the area and character of tea workers are different compared to other workers. In this connection she said that tea workers did not have citizenship of the country.  She said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave them citizenship when he was the Industries Minister in 1954.  “Because of that, I think we have some added responsibilities towards you. We have always tried to address your problems,” she said. Also read: Tea workers’ daily wage set at Tk170: Fair? The Prime Minister said that a few days back when the tea workers raised demands to increase their wages, she held meeting with owners of tea estates and set the daily wages and other facilities for the tea workers.  She said that the government has taken measures so that the owners ensure their dignity and look after the tea workers. The Prime Minister briefly described initiatives of overall development of the country and said that the government has taken steps to ensure homes for every person in the country.  She said that due to the coronavirus pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, prices of essentials have seen significant increase.  “The wave of that blow reached Bangladesh, and we are trying to provide food for people at fair prices, so that they can sustain their families with the income,” she said. Later, she patiently listened to the tea workers who spoke from the four districts. Recently, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed tea estate owners to raise the daily wage of tea workers to Tk 170 from Tk 120 after holding a meeting with them following the demands of the tea workers. The workers' other benefits, including plucking bonus (benefit for plucking additional tea leaves), festival bonus, earned leave and sick leave allowances, provident fund, ration card and retirement facilities will also be increased proportionately.

Many of us can't imagine the morning without a cup of smoking tea. If you want to enjoy the mind-blowing view of tea gardens across the horizon, visit the Sylhet division. Because, out of the total 167 tea gardens in Bangladesh, 135 are located in greater Sylhet. Besides Sylhet, there are tea gardens in some other districts like Panchuagar and Chittagong. The collection of the tea leaves starts in May and lasts till October. That’s why this is the best time to see a tea garden full of greenery. Let's get to know about some of the most fascinating tea gardens in Bangladesh. Top 5 most breathtaking tea gardens in Bangladesh Srimangal tea gardens Srimangal in the Moulvibazar district can be called the tea capital of Bangladesh. The tea gardens of Srimangal cover about 450 sq-km area. It looks like a green carpet on the slope of the hill. Shatgaon tea garden has started in front of the 'Cha Konya (Tea Daughter)' sculpture at the entrance of Srimangal tea garden. The intercity train Parabat Express leaves Dhaka's Kamalapur at 6:40 am six days a week except for Tuesday. The Jayantika Express leaves at 12 pm every day, the Kalni Express leaves at 3 pm, the Upobon Express leaves for Sylhet at 10 pm six days a week except Wednesdays. Train ticket fares range from 340-1,200 Tk depending on the category. Read Trip to Tanguar Haor, Sunamganj: Majestic aquatic beauty soaking the horizon Non-AC and AC buses of Hanif, Shyamoli, ENA, etc. from Fakirapul, Saidabad, and Mohakhali in Dhaka leave for Srimangal every day. Non-AC and AC coaches will cost 470 and 1200 Tk respectively. Several resorts including, Grand Sultan Golf Resort, Novem Eco Resort, Nisarg Eco Cottage, Nisarg Lichibari Cottage, Lemon Garden Resort, and Shanti Bari Resort are located near the tea gardens. Malnichhora tea gardens This tea garden stands near the International Airport of Sylhet. It is the first and largest tea garden in the subcontinent. Lord Hudson founded it on 1500 acres in 1849. Although the tea garden is currently under private supervision, you can enter this tea garden with the permission of the authority. Read Waterfalls in Bangladesh: Everlast Destination for Fountain Lovers Apart from any bus or train going from Dhaka to Sylhet, you can reach Sylhet by air. Air flights like Biman Bangladesh, NovoAir, and US Bengal will take you Sylhet within less than an hour if you spend 2,700-7,000 Tk for plane fare. After reaching Sylhet city, you can go to Malnichhara tea garden by renting a rickshaw, or CNG. It takes about 10 minutes by CNG and 25 minutes by rickshaw from Amberkhana Point to reach Malnichhra. For the overnight stay, you can stay in the shrine area of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA), where you will get rooms of different categories for 500 to 3,000 Tk. Other notable residential hotels in Sylhet include Hotel Roseview International, Hotel Fortune Garden, Hotel Dallas, Hotel Supreme, Hotel Hilltown. Read Sylhet Tourist Places – Where to Go and What to Do Tetulia tea gardens If you don't visit Tetulia, you may not believe that there can be tea gardens even on the plane lands. At present Panchagarh has more than two hundred vibrant tea gardens. If you want to reach directly to Tetulia, you have to take a non-AC coach of Hanif Paribahan from Dhaka's Shyamoli, College-gate, or Gabtali with a fare of 750 to 800 Tk. Besides, you can come to Panchagarh and from there you can reach Tetulia by taking a local bus bound for Banglabandha for 45 Tk. There is a post bungalow under the supervision of the district council or Tentulia picnic corner for tourists to stay. If you want to spend the night in the bungalow, you have to make a booking by applying to the secretary of Panchagarh district council or the Tetulia Upazila executive officer during office hours. Besides, you can stay in a residential hotel in Panchagarh ranging from 200 to 1,000 Tk. Read Picnic Spots near Dhaka City for Short Break