Workers protest at Barapukuria Coal Mine over unpaid face bonus

Tension has gripped the Barapukuria Coal Mine area in Dinajpur as workers and employees launched protests demanding payment of face bonuses before Eid-ul-Azha, warning of work stoppages if their demands are not met.

Since Wednesday morning, workers staged a sit-in programme at the residential gate inside the mine compound. More than a hundred workers and employees from different departments participated in the demonstration.

The protesters alleged that although coal extraction from Coal Face No- 1406 ended in January, the corresponding face bonus has yet to be paid.

Among those addressing the demonstration were Farijar Rahman Topu, adviser to the Barapukuria Coal Mine Workers-Employees Union and joint general secretary of Dinajpur district Jubo Dal, union President Raihanul Islam, and Member Secretary Ashraful Islam, along with several other labour leaders.

The speakers said workers have been receiving face bonuses regularly since 2015, but this year the payments have been withheld for unknown reasons. They alleged that bonuses for mine officials have already been approved, while workers’ bonuses remain pending.

According to the labour leaders, rules require bonuses for officials and workers to be paid simultaneously, but that policy has not been followed.

The union leaders announced that from Saturday (23 May), they will observe a two-hour work stoppage every day. They warned that the movement would intensify if the bonuses are not paid before Eid and even threatened to hold Eid prayers at the mine gate if necessary.

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In an attempt to calm the situation, General Manager (mining) Khan Md Zafar Sadiq held talks with the protesting workers. He assured them that the mine’s managing director is in contact with the relevant ministry to resolve the issue and said the delay was caused by administrative complications.

However, labour leaders said they would not withdraw the movement based on assurances alone and would continue their protests until the bonus payments are made before Eid.