Sandstone workers protest against UP chairman

Thousands of sandstone workers on Friday held a protest in Tahirpur upazila against the decision to suspend operation in the sand and stone quarry in the transboundary Jadukata river.

They chanted slogans against Karuna Sindhu Chowdhury, the chairman of Tahirpur Upazila Parishad of Sunamganj blaming him for the move.

Several thousand workers from Tahirpur and Bishwambharpur upazilas marched through the streets from Tahirpur Naukaghat area.

Later, they held a protest rally and formed a human chain at Sheikh Russell Mini Stadium in Tahirpur.

Speakers said that the upazila chairman was involved in a move to close down the quarry as the workers refused to accept his unethical demands.

Workers returned to work after the quarry reopened recently after a two-year closure.

The quarry was closed after environmentalists complained that excessive excavation of sand and stone was threatening the river. The workers fear that they will lose work and livelihood if the quarry is closed again.