Energy Bangla

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Dhaka Friday,  Mar 29, 2024

Barapukuria mine workers protest

Workers of Barpukuria Coal Mining Company Limited in Dinajpur have confined about 50 officials to the administrative building to press for retention of existing manpower.
The workers encircled the administrative building on Wednesday morning to prevent the officials from coming out.

Coal Mine Workers-Employees Union President Wazed Ali said the authorities had recently finalised a new manpower structure that would employ only 738 people instead of the previous roster strength of 2,674.

On Apr 20, the workers had given the managing director (MD) an ultimatum to go back to the previous strength.

Ali said they were compelled to protest due to the inaction of the management.

A large number of police, Border Guard Bangladesh and RAB personnel have been deployed at the company premises to avert any trouble.

The workers have been protesting against the new manpower structure since Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the authorities are apprehending that a major disaster could occur any time as about 300,000 tonnes of coal stacked in the mining factory had not been watered.

Habib Uddin Ahmed, general manager (mine operation), said all operations had been stopped due to the agitation.

Water has to be poured on the coal after being excavated from the mine to keep it cool.

As the coal is not watered it could catch fire any time, he said.

Ahmed said the factory’s MD would discuss the issue with the workers later in the day.

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