MINTU DESHWARA

Although the 13th national election is a week away, tea garden workers in Sylhet division remain largely indifferent to voting, citing decades of neglect and unfulfilled promises by elected representatives.

Tea workers, considered a significant voting bloc, say candidates engage with them only during election periods and fail to deliver meaningful improvements once polls are over.

Workers across the division complain of persistent problems, including dilapidated roads, a lack of safe drinking water, inadequate educational facilities, the absence of hospitals and ambulances and ongoing health risks.

According to industry sources, several hundred thousand workers are employed in 158 tea gardens in the Sylhet division.

The workers said although their votes have often been decisive, their living conditions have not improved. This time, workers say they want concrete commitments, including improved roads, safe drinking water, schools and colleges, hospitals, ambulances and reliable healthcare services.

Ratan Ghatual, a worker at Chandichhara Tea Garden, said she brings her six-month-old child to work to support her family. “Who should we vote for? They are not available after the election,” she said.

Echoing the sentiment, another worker from the same garden Meghna Mridha said, “We haven’t decided yet whether we will vote.”

Ranjan Kurmi, a worker at Khadim Tea Garden in Sylhet, said, “When someone falls sick, it becomes extremely difficult to take them to a hospital. Candidates promise solutions during elections, but none are implemented.”

Noyon Bauri, a resident of Noapara Tea Garden in Habiganj, said workers intend to be more cautious this time. “We will vote wisely -- for whoever actually works for our development.”

Elderly residents said successive governments have made promises over the years, but little has been done to protect tea gardens and surrounding forests or to develop tourism in the region. Youth in the area said planned tourism could create local employment and reduce migration.

“If tourism were developed properly, we wouldn’t have to leave our area for work,” said Suman Goala, a young resident of Chatlapur Tea Garden in Moulvibazar.

Nirmal S Palash, general secretary of SHUJAN (Kamalganj), said Kamalganj and Srimangal have immense tourism potential, but government initiatives remain inadequate. Candidates should pursue planned, safe and environmentally sustainable tourism to ensure economic benefits for local communities.

CANDIDATES OUTLINE COMMITMENTS

Meanwhile, candidates have outlined their commitments during campaign activities.

BNP candidate Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury said his priorities include improving tea workers’ living standards, developing the tourism industry and creating jobs for unemployed youth if elected.

Pritam Das, NCP candidate for Moulvibazar-4 (Srimangal-Kamalganj), said he has identified key challenges in tourism. “If elected, I will work to improve the quality of life of tea workers and Khasia communities, modernise tourism, create employment and develop roads in the haor–tila region.”

BSD candidate Md Abul Hasan from the same constituency pledged environment friendly and planned development, prioritising tourism, increasing tea workers’ wages, ensuring land ownership rights and providing constitutional recognition to indigenous communities.