The Chatal workers of the district do not know the Great May Day or the International Labor Day. Even though it is officially closed on May Day, they have to continue working. They somehow survive by fighting and toiling with life. Chatal workers provide rice to billions of people in the country by processing rice from paddy soaked in rain day and night and burnt by the sun. The men and women workers of that Chatal have been deprived of their fair dues for ages. They do not get leave not only on May Day but also on Eid.
Visiting the district's Chatal mills, it is learned that in the early 1980s, the establishment of Chatal mills started in Ashuganj of the district. Gradually, due to easy communication and infrastructure facilities by road, rail and river, this industry expanded rapidly here. Also, due to the availability of Ashuganj thermal power plant, which is one of the largest in the country, and the availability of gas, the installation of Chatal mills is increasing day by day.
There are more than 300 Chatal rice mills in Brahmanbaria, the largest paddy and rice producer in the eastern part of the country. And about 10 thousand men and women workers are employed here those who are working day and night to produce rice from paddy. From these mills, 30/35 thousand tons of rice are being supplied to different areas of the country every day. And men and women workers have to do all the work from boiling rice to packing rice in these mills. Their homes are in different upazilas of the district including Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Sunamganj, Barishal, Satkhira, Naogaon and Mymensingh. They do not know whether it is International Labor Day or May Day. Even though there is an official holiday on this day, the workers have to work.
Kala Mia, a worker at Bhai Bhai Auto Rice Mill said, I have been working at Chatal mill for about 8 years. Until now, our owners have never given May Day holiday. I don't know whether there is such an instruction officially.
Khan Mohammad auto rice mill worker Md. Hanif Mia said, never heard about May Day or International Labor Day. We have never stopped working on this day. If you don't work, you won't get food in your stomach. So let's work; Don't worry about holidays.
Chatal's female worker Mariam Begum regretted that people have a lot of desire to roam. They can do that. We also want to go to different festivals like other people. But it is no longer possible by us.
Another Chatal woman Ruma Begum told Barta24.com, I feel very bad when people move around on different days. Because for almost 7 years I cannot go to my in-laws house due to work. I can't take a few days off anyway. Even if we want leave, we are not given leave. And our salary is according to the production. So I can't think about getting food for my stomach if I want to.
Meanwhile, Atiullah of Brother Auto Rice Mill told Barta24.com that they actually work according to the contract with the owner and according to the production. So it is up to them not to stop. And many of the laborers are not educated. So they don't know much about May Day. However, if they do not want to work on this day, there is no restriction on the part of the owner.
General Secretary of Ashuganj branch of Bangladesh Trade Union Association Tanshen Ahmed told Barta24.com, I have tried a lot to understand the owners and workers. We can't for rice mill owner and Sardar. Talked to the workers but they don't let Sardar understand this thing. Owners work with them.
We have discussed these demands with the owners on various occasions, but they have not accepted any of the demands so far. Therefore, I am calling for the formulation of a policy in coordination with the owners of the Chatal to pay the minimum monthly wages to the Chatal workers on May Day.
Former President of District Rice Mill Owners Association Babul Ahmed told Barta24.com that although there are various social institutions in the country, none of them have been seen by the side of these neglected and deprived workers. There is no closure on Labor Day in the rice mills of the district. If any initiative is taken by the government, we will take action accordingly. Of course workers need to be off on this day.
In this regard, Brahmanbaria Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman told Barta24.com, "I am not aware of the fact that the workers in the Chatal mills of the district do not have any closure on May Day." As I understand that they should be closed on May Day, necessary measures will be taken by talking to the Chatal owners.