MINTU DESHWARA, Moulvibazar

The Bangladesh Tea Workers Union has gone through eight years without an election, leaving workers without elected representation for the third consecutive tenure.

The situation is raising concerns over a leadership vacuum, internal feuds, and growing worker dissatisfaction.

Founded in 1948, the union represents over one lakh workers across tea gardens in the country’s north-eastern districts.

The union last held its triennial polls on June 24, 2018. Under its constitution, although fresh elections were due in 2021 and again in 2024, it was not held in either year, leaving the same committee in office for nearly twice its mandated term.

The union has a three-tier structure -- panchayat (garden-level), valley, and central committees -- each elected directly by workers for three years. With the terms long expired, many of these committees have effectively become inactive.

Workers say the absence of elected representation has weakened their ability to raise grievances or negotiate with garden authorities.

Geeta Rani Kanu, a labour leader, said expired committees lacked the legitimacy to negotiate effectively with estate owners, leaving workers’ demands unaddressed.

Selim Ahmed, a Rajghat Union Parishad member and tea workers’ leader, alleged that unelected individuals were clinging to power.

“We have repeatedly demanded elections and even issued ultimatums, but there has been no action,” he added.

Observers linked the clash between two groups of workers at Teliapara Tea Garden in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj on February 23 this year to disputes stemming from the absence of an elected panchayat committee.

“In the absence of legitimate leadership, misunderstandings, internal feuds, and violence are increasing. Timely elections could have prevented such divisions,” said Lalon Tanti, president of the Teliapara panchayat.

Current union leaders, however, rejected the allegation of stagnation and cited financial and administrative hurdles to holding the elections.

They said a letter was sent to the Department of Labour in 2022 seeking support for the polls, but the process stalled.

“We have taken steps, including communicating with the Department of Labour, but financial and administrative complications have delayed the process,” said Nripen Paul, acting general secretary of the union’s central committee.

He acknowledged that expired committees did not enjoy the same acceptance among workers as elected ones and that problems were emerging in many gardens as a result.

Pankaj Kanda, vice-president of the union, admitted the leadership itself was uneasy with the situation.

“It is not easy to remain in charge without an election for so long,” he said. “We also feel uncomfortable continuing without a fresh mandate, but the situation is beyond our control.”

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