Speakers at a human chain in Sylhet called upon the government to stop setting up a special economic zone (SEZ) in Chandpur tea garden area in Habiganj’s Chunarughat upazila. Organised by Bangladesh Tea Labour Union, the human chain was held in front of Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar. Bilash Banerjee, president of Burjan Tea Garden panchayat committee, said, “We feel insecure. We may be evicted at any moment. Every day we pass in a state of panic.” Faruq Mahmud Chowdhury, Sylhet unit president of Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan), urged the government to cancel the setting up of the SEZ in the arable land in the tea garden area. Advocate Anwar Hossain Sumon, general secretary of Sylhet unit Communist Party of Bangladesh, said, “We expect that the civil administration will work to ensure people’s rights. The government should take care of those people whose lives are in danger.” Chandpur tea garden Bhumi Rokkyha committee yesterday submitted a memorandum to Habiganj deputy commissioner to press home their one-point demand.
