The exhibitions began with a cultural show featuring traditional dances, songs and music of Bangladesh’s adivasi and tea communities. In his welcoming address, Philip Gain, Director of SEHD and photographer discussed the stories behind the photos on exhibit, which depict the lives, struggles, work conditions and cultures of tea workers and Bangladesh’s ethnic communities.

During workshops organized by SEHD in 2012 and 2013, it was revealed that there were many unrecognized ethnic communities in Bangladesh, especially within the tea gardens. The project, “Mapping and capacity building of tea plantation workers and little known ethnic communities of Bangladesh” funded by European Union and ICCO cooperation adopted an “emic” approach to investigating these unexplored communities. Field researchers from the ethnic communities played a key role in gathering primary information about these communities by conducting focus group discussions (FGDs) and field level investigation in all tea gardens, 16 districts in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, and nine districts in the North-centre and Northeast. Photography was an integral part of mapping these communities who were on display at the exhibitions.

Most of the photos on display were taken during the three-year duration of the project and its research activities. While the government records show only 27 ethnic communities in Bangladesh, SEHD has found as many as 80 different ethnic communities in the tea gardens (70 of them not on the government records) and 37 ethnic communities in other areas that are not on the government records. According to Philip Gain, it is hoped that through SEHDs research, the information obtained will reach government agencies such as the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics so that these ethnic groups are recognized and fairly represented in the national census.

A constitutional amendment (fifteenth) passed in 2011 declared that “The people of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangalees as a nation and the citizens of Bangladesh shall be known as Bangladeshies”. This amendment mentions Adivasis as “tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities” and fails to provide them with the recognition they require to help preserve their unique cultural heritage and languages.

Dr. Shahidul Alam, a photographer of international repute, talked about the invisibility and extinction of the languages of the ethnic communities and said, “We fought for our Bangla language in 1952, then why do we want to take away the languages of other communities?” He also talked about the power dynamics of photography and the importance of being mindful of where we stand when we take and use pictures of others. He praised the photographers of the exhibitions for taking images from the perspective of the ethnic communities.Chitta Ghosh, president of Dinajpur Press Club; Parimal Singh Baraik, Director of Moulvibazar Cha Janagoshthi Adivasi Front and Sandhya Malo, director of Women Commission for Development in Bangladesh also spoke about the invisibility and struggles of the ethnic communities.

Professor Md. Golam Rahman, chief information commissioner and the chief guest, talked about the diversity in our nation and encouraged the Bangalee majority to embrace a pluralistic society. He said, “Different religions, languages, communities—these are the reality of our state. It cannot be ignored. We have to remember that unity is possible to attain in diversity.”

In his concluding remarks, Moazzem Hossain, chief executive of Gram Bikash Kendra and chair at the launching thanked the guests of honour, the organizers, and the audience and reiterated the significance of diversity for our nation. “It’s a source of honour for our nation that so many different communities are found in such a small country. We should work to present our diversity to the rest of the world.”

Communities and their life, culture, environment, tradition, economy, etc. featured at the photography exhibitions:  Almik, Bakti, Banai, Bangalee, Baraik, Barma, Basphor, Bauri, Bawn, Been, Bhar, Bhokta, Bhuimali, Bhuiya, Bhumij, Bihari, Bindumondol, Buna, Bunerjee, Chak, Chakma, Chasha, Chatri, Chowhan, Dalu, Dusad, Ganju Singh, Garo, Ghatual, Giri, Goala, Gorait, Goswami, Gour, Goyashur (also known as Ashur), Hajong, Hajra, Hari, Hodi, Jhora, Kadar, Kahar, Kairi, Kalindi, Kalwar, Kanu, Karmokar, Keot, Kharia, Khasi, Khodal, Khumi, Khyang, Koch, Koda, Kol, Kondo, Kora, Kshatriya (one-third of total), Kumar (Pal), Kurmi, Lohar, Lushai, Lyngam, Mahato, Mahle, Majhi, Mal, Malo, Mandraji, Marma, Modok, Monipuri, Mridha, Mru, Munda, Mushohor, Naidu, Nayek, Nepali, Noonia, Oraon, Paharia, Painka, Pandit, Pangkhua, Pashi, Patro, Phulmali, Pradhan, Rajgor, Rajballobh, Rajbhar, Rajbongshi, Rajwar, Rakhaine, Rautia, Reli, Robidas, Sadhu, Santal, Shabor, Sheel, Shobdokar, Suklaboiddyo, Tanchangya, Tanti, Teli (Pal), Tongla, Tripura, and Turi.

Rally to mark opening of national convention and photography exhibitions

On April 17 2016, a colourful procession of performers walked through the streets of Dhaka singing and dancing in festive celebration. As they made their way from Asad Avenue to Manik Mia Avenue, adorned with bold headbands proclaiming “Our Identity Our Culture”, their message was clear, “We are here. See us. Acknowledge us. Recognize our culture.” The rally marked the launch of the national convention on “Rethinking Identity, Geography and Rights of Tea Workers and Little-known Ethnic Communities” held on April 17 and 18 2016 at CBCB Centre and DRIK Gallery.

The national convention sought to create awareness regarding Bangladesh’s tea workers and the little-known ethnic communities and discuss issues central to their rights and preservation of their unique cultures. During the rally, the participants cheerfully danced and sang in their traditional dresses as they proudly showcased their culture to spectators. It featured saxophone performances by representatives of the Shobdokor community while Santals played drums and kartals to accompany the traditional Dashai (welcome) dances.  Participant during the rally included Philip Gain, director of SEHD; Dr. Tanzimuddin Khan, Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, Dhaka University and Bichitra Tirki, noted adivasi leader and land rights activist amongst many others. The National Convention was concluded on April 18, 2016 with a vibrant cultural show that further highlighted the uniqueness and diversity of Bangladesh’s small and little known ethnic communities.

Book launch, premiere screening of documentary film and discussion

As part of the national convention on the theme, “Rethinking Identity, Geography and Rights of Tea Workers and Little-known Ethnic Communities” the Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD), in partnership with Gram Bikash Kendra, launched photo album, “On the Margins: Images of Tea Workers and Ethnic Communities” organized a panel discussion on 18 April 2016 at CBCB Centre. In total 167 people (46 women and 121 men) participated in the national convention on 18 April.

Chaired by Professor Sakhawat Ali Khan, Chairman, SEHD, the launching and discussion was graced by Dr. Rafiqul Islam, professor emeritus, University of Liberal Arts (ULAB) as the chief guest. Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman, Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC); Dr. Tanzimuddin Khan, associate professor, Dhaka University; Moushumi Shabnam, anthropologist, North South University; and Hasna Hena Khan, Program Officer of the ICCO Cooperation commented on the book and reflected on the key findings of studies on identity of ethnic communities who remain little-known or invisible.

Philip Gain, director of SEHD, in his introduction, presented the summary of the findings of the mapping of little-known ethnic communities of the plains and the ethnic communities in the tea gardens. The government census of 1991 and the Khudra Nri-gosthi Sangskritik Pratisthan Ain, 2010 (The Small Ethnic Groups Cultural Institution Act 2010) gives a list of of 27 khudra nri-gosthi in Bangladesh. Among these groups Marma and Mong in the Chittagong Hill Tracts refer to the same people and so are the Tripura and Usai or Usui. In the plains Malpahari and Pahari are also the same people. So, the actual number of ethnic communities is 25 according to this new law and the population census of 1991.

Some organizations of the ethnic groups estimate their number at 45 or more.  The findings and exposé of the the mapping about the ethnic communities that Gain presented set benchmarks for researchers, academes, media and activists. In addition to ethnic communities mentioned in government records, SEHD has found 34 communities in the Northwest and North-centre, many of whom are found also in the tea estates. The ethnic identities of the communities in the tea gardens have always remained inadequately attended. What is unique about the tea workers (122,000) and their communities (with a population of some 500,000,) is that they belong to many ethnic and caste identities—as many as 80. Of the 80 communities found in the 156 tea gardens (BTB’s report, Statistics on Bangladesh Tea Industry-2015 gives a list of 160 tea gardens; however, three-four gardens are not in operation and not inhabited by tea communities and those were skipped from FGDs).  nine are mentioned in the government records as ethnic communities.

“All ethnic communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Northwestern region (Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions), North-central region, Northeast, coastal regions in Patuakhali and Cox’s Bazar districts, and the tea gardens put together, we find a comprehensive list of 110 ethnic communities in Bangladesh,” said Gain.

Gain’s presentation was followed by launching of 232-page photo album ‘On the Margins: Images of Tea Workers and Ethnic Communities’, which contains incredible faces of all 80 communities in the tea gardens and all other ethnic communities of Bangladesh. Images of other major aspects of life of the tea workers and the ethnic communities are integral part of the photo album. The author of the photo album, Philip Gain, informed that two volumes with details of these communities that were yet to come from the press, would give a comprehensive picture of the ethnic communities of Bangladesh.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, one key discussant, emphasized on the importance of making Bangladesh’s little-known ethnic groups and the tea communities “statistically visible” and increasing their participation in the political and democratic process. “The summary findings of the research presented in the photo album are an outstanding addition to the literature on the ethnic communities of Bangladesh which will immensely contribute to scaling up the visibility of the ethnic communities of Bangladesh,” said Rahman. “This has also immense political significance for recognition of these communities that remain largely invisible.”

Dr. Tanzimuddin Khan reflected on the engagement of the tea workers and ethnic communities themselves in mapping their communities and said “that is significant for any research to be participatory and meaningful. The findings of the mapping provide us with information that is first of its kind and will help us in coming to a consensus on the number and identities of ethnic communities in Bangladesh.”

Moushumi Shabnam reflected that “the findings presented today will make us rethink identities of the indigenous communities of Bangladesh and arouse interest of the anthropologists and researchers for further research on the communities in the tea gardens and other areas”.

Prof. Rafiqul Islam, in his speech as the chief guest, said, “We are amazed to discover that there are so many ethnic communities in Bangladesh in addition to Bangalees. If further research is done on communities in Bangladesh many more surprising facts may surface.” Prof. Islam warned that these communities, their languages, identities and cultural heritages are at great danger today. The languages are getting lost, so are many indigenous peoples. He appeal to the people of the majority community and the state to take all necessary measures to protect these people, their languages and culture that make Bangladesh ethnically and cultural rich.

Premiere screening of elegy on land and discussion:The evening session, focused on land and adivasis of the Northwest and the tea gardens, begun with the premiere screening of 30-minute documentary film, Elegy on Land. The film tells the stories of land disputes involving adivasis. Most of the adivasis who once owned land are landless and impoverished nowadays. They work as agricultural labourers on other people’s land. Based on statistics from different sources the best guesstimate is that about 80 percent of the adivasis of the North Bengal are landless.

Participants At Citizen’s Dialogue. Photo. Philip Gain.jpg

There are laws to protect the adivasi land. But the Adavasis and many others allege that these laws are not applied properly. The state administration, however, does not agree with the contention that the state does not take the side of the adivasis. Many in the administration allege that the adivasis do not properly maintain their land documents.

The film, on the one hand, tells the stories of soil and blood, on the other, documents the solutions the activists and experts suggest.

Chaired by Rabindranath Soren, president, Jatiyo Adivasi Parishad and facilitated by Philip Gain, a discussion followed the screening of the documentary film. Film critique, activists, lawyer and politician reflected on the film and shared their experiences and suggestions.

Manjare Hasin Murad, well-known in the film making industry appreciated that such a film has been made. Apart from technicality of making a film, what is important here is the decision of making such a film, said Murad. “While the television channels and even many development organizations are reluctant to address hard facts about many human rights abuses, one being violence related to land, the choice of cases shown in film is rare,” he commented. “The producer and the director of the film show courage in dealing with such a complex topic. The film is an eye-opener for the activists and the media.”

Shamsul Huda, executive director of Association for Land Reform and Development and a long time activist on land issue, emphasised the importance of developing legal protections for Bangladesh’s adivasis.  “We need a specific law to protect the rights of the adivasis community” he said.

Philimon Baske, vice president, Bagda Farm Bhumi Uddhar Shangram Committee; Bichitra Tirki, an Oraon Woman from Rajshahi and a victim of physical abuse; and Babul Robidas, an adivasi lawyer in Joypurhat assisting the adivasis in the courts, shared their struggle and experience on ground in struggle for retaining land and claiming the legitimate rights of the adivasis.

Pankaj Bhattacharya, a politician and special guest at the session, also shared his experience of visit to communities in the Northwest. “The state is not humane and friendly enough to provide necessary safeguard to the adivasis.” He reiterated the common hope of the adivasis that “the state, judiciary and the officials in the concerned state agencies exercising their executive powers, will ensure justice for them.”

Celebrating cultural diversity: Bangladesh is a country of an overwhelming Bangalee majority. But there are many other ethnic communities, languages and vibrant cultures in this country. The languages and cultures of these small ethnic communities have enriched the language and culture of the majority Bangalees in many ways. The vibrant cultures are yet to be explored.

A Telegu Cultural Group Performing Cultural Evening. Photo. Philip Gain

To mark the national convention on the theme, rethinking identity, geography and rights of tea workers and little-known ethnic communities, a cultural evening, “Our Identity Our Culture” was organized in the evening of 18 April 2016 to showcase the cultural heritage of Bangladesh’s often forgotten and neglected ethnic minority communities.

The cultural evening gave us a glimpse into the cultural lives of the tea and ethnic communities.

It included traditional dances and songs by the Santal, Mahles, Garo, Koch, Garos and Telegu devotional rites including songs and dances. The event also exhibited cultural artefacts from these ethnic groups which gave us a glimpse into their day to day lives and included objects such as baskets, hunting and farming equipment, jewellery and other commonly used tools.

Dr. Rafiqul Islam, professor emeritus, ULAB, a renowned academic and creative writer and Mamunur Rashid, a prominent actor of Bangladesh lectured on the identity, language and culture of the ethnic communities. They spoke about the importance of preserving the identity, languages and cultures of Bangladesh’s adivasi communities. Mamunur Rashid spoke about the importance of culture in our lives: “We must keep our culture alive because culture is our identity. It shows us who we are.” He also spoke about the importance of diversity and its ability to strengthen a society. Dr. Rafiqul Islam spoke about the importance of preserving adivasi languages as well as our own national language.

On April 19, 2016, the Society for Environment and Human Development, an environmental and human rights organization, organized a citizen’s dialogue titled, “Rethinking Identity, Geography and Rights of the Tea Workers and their Community” in partnership with Gram Bikash Kendra with financial support from the European Union and ICCO Cooperation. The event brought together various stakeholders from the tea industry including, tea workers, trade union leaders, labour rights activists and government personnel.

The discussion was moderated by Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman, Power and Participation Research Center (PPRC). The designated speakers included Tapan Datta, president Trade Union Center, Chittagong; Md. Azizul Islam, deputy inspector general (DIG), Factory and Establishment, Srimongol, Moulvibazar; Shah Khairul Enam, member, Labour, Health and Welfare Sub-committee, Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA); Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, assistant executive director, Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS); and Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, lawyer, Supreme Court among others.

Philip Gain, the Director of Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD) and lead researcher, presented the findings of their research on the geography, identity, and political agenda of the tea communities in Bangladesh.

Md. Azizul Islam, deputy inspector general (DIG), Factory and Establishment, Srimongol, Moulvibazar, spoke about the discrimination faced by the tea workers with regard to the application of Bangladesh labour law. According to the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 (Section 234), 5% of the profits of a business organization or enterprise must go towards a labour participation fund or a workers welfare fund for use by joint decision of the workers. However, tea workers are denied access to these funds. He emphasized the importance of addressing these legal discrepancies to ensure improvements in the standard of living for the tea communities.

The misfortune of the tea communities started with their long and treacherous journeys to the tea gardens of Bengal in the mid 19th century. According to one account, during the early years, approximately one-third of the tea plantation workers died during their journey to the tea gardens and due to the difficult working and living conditions at the time. Upon their arrival, the workers became indentured labourers and the property of the tea companies. They have since been tied to the labour lines of the tea gardens and have remained economically, socially and ethnically isolated from the surrounding communities.

Tea workers are some of the lowest paid workers in the country, earning daily cash pay of just Taka 85 for A-class gardens, Taka 83 for B-class gardens and Taka 82 for C-class gardens. They often work under indecent and hazardous conditions and are prone to exhaustion and injuries. They lack adequate supply of drinking water and water supplies in the tea gardens are often contaminated due to poor sanitation. They are also exposed to dangerous pesticides and are not provided with the required safety equipment. Thus, skin and diarrheal diseases and respiratory problems are common health complications suffered by the tea workers.

The speakers also expressed their concerns regarding the government’s recent plans to create a Special Economic Zone in Hobiganj on 511 acres of arable land within Chandpore Tea Estate, which resulted in many incidences of massive protests since April 2015. The protests were attended by thousands of tea workers fighting for their right to continue to cultivate the land as their communities have been doing for over 150 years.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman reiterated the importance of social justice for inclusive development in Bangladesh and highlighted the need to improve the level of public investment in education for these communities.

Rambhajan Kairi, general secretary of the Bangladesh Tea Workers Union, reaffirmed the importance of making workers aware of their rights under the law and of strengthening the labour movement for tea workers. Asha Ornal, a tea worker and research assistant with Society for Environment and Human Development, spoke about the difficulties of life on the tea plantations, “How can a worker support a family and afford three meals a day on a wage of Tk.85 a day. It’s impossible”. She also spoke specifically about the gender dimensions of the issue. “Women are the tea industry. Without us, this industry wouldn’t exist yet we do not have access to proper sanitation, maternity leave or healthcare”.

Approximately fifty percent of the total tea workers are women but are underrepresented within the leadership of the workers’ union. They face a number of difficulties such as occupational health hazards, lack of nutrition, long working hours and irregularities regarding access to maternity leave and other benefits.

The tea workers are a politically neglected and disadvantaged group. They are at the mercy of tea garden owners through an exploitative land tenure system supported by the state. In spite of having settled in Bangladesh many generations ago, they have no right to the land and are seen as outsiders by the general Bangle population due to differences in culture, ethnicity and religion. They have little scope for education or employment outside the estates and are thus tied to the tea estates with little hope of improving their circumstances. They are socially and economically excluded. Although Bangladesh is a signatory to many international laws and conventions that offer protection to communities such as the tea workers, there is little political will to push through rules and regulations to improve their circumstances. Their plight reflects the political realities faced by many minority communities in Bangladesh and offers us some important food for thought. Indeed, when the steam has dissipated and the tea leaves have settled, there is much to contemplate over our next cup of tea.

Asfara Ahmed is a research associate with Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)

First published in Dhaka Courier on Thursday, May 12th, 2016.

http://www.dhakacourier.com.bd/wanted-the-just-society/

The state, through its recent law, Khudra Nri-gosthi Sangskritik Pratisthan Ain, 2010 (Small Ethnic Group Cultural Institution Act, 2010) recognizes 27 ‘ethnic’ groups in Bangladesh. However, fresh inventories and review of existing literature summarized and presented by Philip Gain, director of SEHD and lead researcher of the initiative to map the ethnic communities show that there are as many as 50 such communities in the northwest, north-center and the tea gardens of Bangladesh who remain unrecognized, isolated and invisible both constitutionally and statistically.

The little-known ethnic groups in the North-center and Northwest that remain largely invisible are Bagdi, Banai, Bhuiya, Bhuimali, Bhumij, Bindu, Chowhan, Ghatual or Ghatuar, Ganju or Singh, Gorait, Hajra, Hari, Hodi, Kadar, Kairi, Kalwar, Rai Barman (Khastryio), Koda, Kora, Karmakar, Kurmi, Madak, Mahali/Mahle, Malo, Mushohor, Nunia, Pahan, Pal Teli, Robidas, Rajbhor, Rajuar, Singh, Tanti, Telegu, Teli, and Turi among others.Some of these communities are found in the tea gardens. In addition, there are also more than 70 communities in the tea gardens. These are indeed some of the most marginalized and excluded groups of people and ‘captive’ laborers in the tea garden of Bangladesh.

“These communities are faced with severe deprivation. To bring change in their lives, the state and the people of the majority community should feel their deprivation from heart,” said Lukas Kispotta, an Oraon intellect of Dinajpur. “These communities deserve special attention because they offer incredible diversity and value to this nation. The state must adopt right policies to protect these communities.”

To elaborate the issue of deprivation that Lukas Kispotta raised, Bichitra Tirki (34), an Oraon from Rajshahi, sheds her tear as she talks about oppression her Bengali neighbors inflicted on her. In her struggle to protect the family land, she has been severely assaulted—both physically and mentally. Bichitra’s husband Mongla beset by a gang of land grabbers who took control of all his 48 bighas of land (33 decimals is one bigha) died in 1999. The family related the death to shock that Mongla went through for physical attack and mental torture his Bengali neighbors caused to him.

Bichitra fought in the court and conclusively recovered 26 bighas of the family land in 2007 and was hoping to recover the rest 22 bighas that remained under injunction. It was at such stage that last year the land grabbers attacked Bichitra and her family right on their land. They beat her severely, tore her clothes, completely undressed and allegedly raped her.

“We, the adivasis, are repressed non-stop. But the state does not protect us,” accuses Bichitra. “The biggest trouble we face today is attack on our land. The land grabbers are unsettling our life with false cases. We do not get speedy trial and justice in the court. We make equal contribution with our Bengali brethren in building the nation but we are not treated as equal citizens.”

With agony in heart Bichitra Tirki puts a question to the state: “Shall we leave this country? Does the state want to drive us out?”

Dr. Tanzimuddin Khan, associate professor of international relations of Dhaka University reflects on the character of the state and psyche of the majority Bengali for the inhospitable treatment towards the ethnic communities that are frequently reported. “It is for severe criminalizationof the state that it is no more humane.  That the state does not want to ratify Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention 169 reflects its inhumane structure,” said Khan. “The state instead of ensuring equal treatment to all of its citizens, is contributing to further marginalization of the ethnic and excluded communities.”

The current character of the state towards these communities also involves the members of the majority the community “who do not help in the making of state character that is caring towards the minorities and communities in exclusion and helplessness,” added Khan.”It is time for all of us to think about the character of the state and how the state becomes humane and pay special attention to its national minorities and excluded communities.”

It is not just the land-related and social issues that cause despair to the ethnic communities, particularly the little-known ones, there are serious concerns about their languages and cultures. Aside from Bangla, there are some 37 languages spoken by ethnic communities of Bangladesh (according to Justice Habibur Rahman, 2014 in Bangladesher Nanan Bhasha–Different Languages of Bangladesh). The number of languages spoken may increase if proper census is done. There are communities who no more speak their languages and there are others who speak their languages but do not have alphabets. “There are threats of languages spoken by the ethnic communities getting lost. It is important to nurture and preserve alphabets,” said Abu Raihan Miah, ADC General of Dinajpur district. “The adivasi youth need to train themselves on how to protect languages. Many languages spoken today may get lost in the future.”

“The adivasis are losing much of their tradition, knowledge, festivals and glories of the past,” warned Moazzen Hossain of Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK), a Dinajpur based development organization close to ethnic communities and Dalits. “This is a loss not only of the adivasis but also for the nation as well.”

Resolving Land-related Issues

While problems dominated most part of the dialogue, speakers also talked about solution. Abdullah Sarker, Prothom AlocorrespondentDinajpur who has been reporting on adivasi issues urged the NGOs, church bodies and the adivasi organizations to assist the advasis to secure their land title papers. “One big reason for eviction and violence against the adivasis is that their land title papers are not up-to-date.”

ADC General Abu Raihan Miah concurred with Abdullah Sarker. “For solution of land-related problems you need to carefully find out what amount of land you have in your name, have a clear idea of the boundary of your land, check the record, kharij the name and then secure the title,” advised the ADC General who adds, “Adivasis have the same rights like all other citizens of the country. There are criminals around you should stay watchful about.”

Advocate Babul Robidas adds: “The current law, especially East Bengal State Acquisition and Tenancy Act (EBSATA) provides safeguard to the adivasi land. The adivasis should know and make use of this law.”

“The adivasis should also resolve their internal conflicts,” suggested Moazzem Hossain, “and work towards having a permanent land commission.”

Rabindranath Soren, the chair at the dialogue and president of Jatiyo Adivasi Parishad (JAP)appreciated the role of women in struggle for rights. “On the one hand,the adivasi women face oppression and on the other, they stay in the frontline of resistance movement for rights.”

PDF version of report [ Download ]

Report by Philip Gain
The writer is director of Society for Environment and Human Development (SEHD)

First Published: Dhaka Courier, 30 April 2015

In his reflection on the tea workers’ condition, Rambhajan Kairi, the general secretary of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union (BCSU), said, “The tea workers are living a miserable life. They are deprived of most of the basic civil rights. It is necessary for the tea workers to develop their skills and capacity in order to expose their problems to the policy makers, media, and people in general.”

Challenges of CSOs and CBOs among adivasis and tea workers: In group work [on the second day], the participants focused on the civil society organizations (CSOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) in the light of the condition of the organizations they represented, the challenges they face, and what they need in dealing with their condition and challenges. The key challenges they identified their organizations face include legal status (of the 16 organizations represented at the workshop only five had primary registration and none had NGO Affairs Bureau registration); lack of organizational infrastructure; lack of skills to build resources; geography (many are located in remote areas); lack of communication with others (including the media and administration) and networking; lack of planning; lack of credibility and transparency; lack of participation of women in the activities of the  organizations; lack of unity; lack of adequate political awareness and protection; inefficiency in preparing reports; lack of state recognition of the adivasis and other communities who are not Bangalees; hardship; lack of knowledge about ILO conventions that define rights and protection of adivasis and occupational groups; lack of capacity to engage in effective lobby and advocacy; lack of good governance; lack of capacity to be sustainable, lack of ability of mainstreaming the marginalized communities; lack of knowledge about government policies and mechanisms (including their analysis and updates); lack of capacity to study and interpret national and international laws and instruments that relate to trade unions,  tea communities and adivasis; and hostility of the people of majority community.

Overcoming the challenges: The participants also discussed what they think about overcoming such wide-ranging challenges. Some of them are: securing registration of the organizations with appropriate legal authorities; updating and putting the constitution of the organization in practice; proper use of IT; organizing special training on research; documentation and publication; engaging in research and publication; collation and preservation of traditions, traditional knowledge and cultural elements; syndicating reports on deprivation and abuses; training and orientation of organizations of adivasis and tea communities on national and international conventions and laws related to their rights and sharing national and international instruments; establishing legal aid mechanisms; organizing skill and capacity training on specific issues; engaging in issue-based campaigns and scaling up skills for such campaigns; establishing networks among organizations of tea communities and little-known ethnic communities; increasing communication with stakeholders (governmental, non-governmental and donor agencies); training on project formulation and fund raising and developing funds with local resource, etc.

Bhupesh Roy, head of program of GBK, talked about how to improve organizational capacity and accountability. He discussed the essential instruments of an organization. The foremost of these instruments is the constitution (memorandum and rules and regulations). He reflected on how to develop an organizational constitution and how an organization becomes accountable at different levels.

Ahsan Ali, director, finance and administration of PRIP Trust talked about setting up of financial management of an organization in the last day of the workshop. He shared practical tips on different methods and techniques of effective financial management.

Developing Capacity Building Tools (manual): At a session, the participants brainstormed to outline the contents of a capacity building toolbox (or manual) for CSOs and CBOs.

In the last session of the workshop on the third day, Moazzem Hossain, the chief executive of GBK encouraged the adivasis to strengthen their own organizations to fight for rights and protection of diverse cultures.

PDF version of the report  [ Download ]

In his introductory remarks, the workshop moderator and director of SEHD, Philip Gain, reminded everyone that the learning objectives of the workshop were sharing knowledge on issues related to the rights of the tea workers and trade union; strengthening capacity of the trade union leaders in the tea industry through skill sharing and scaling up communication capability; and connecting tea workers’ union with national and international trade union activism.

Several trainers at the workshop particularly discussed the rights of tea workers guaranteed by the labour act, discrimination against the tea workers in the labour act, and violation of labour laws in tea industry. Tapan Datta, president of Chittagong Trade Union Centre and member of Chittagong Labour Court, mentioned article 183 of Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006 and said, “Article 183 is highly discriminatory and it contradicts with the ILO Convention No. 87 (adopted in 1948). Article 183 allows the tea workers to form a union only at the national level, and the law makes it mandatory that to form a union, 30 per cent of the total work force shall its members. Such legal restriction did not exist before the labour act of 2006.”

Bijoy Bunerjee, chairman of Rajghat Union Parishad and a trade union leader criticized the legal framework that actually allowed existence of only one functional union in the tea sector for such a long time.” On trade union is not ideal and for the trade unions to play a competitive role there should be two/three unions in the tea sector,” suggested Bijoy Bunerjee, “It also creates scopes for creation of new leadership.”

Bunerjee also talked about the vulnerability of the tea communities in tackling the challenge of unemployment. “We do not get jobs in the tea gardens other than tea leaf picking. Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB) and other public offices also do not treat us with respect and we get no job there,” lamented Bunerjee.

In reference to the garment industry, Elias Ali, leader of the Chittagong Trade Union Centre said, “Garment workers have greater opportunities to bargain as they can unionize at the factory level.” A strong urge arose from the workshop to decentralize the tea workers’ union, as it will speed up the tea workers’ movement for their rights.

In the tea industry, even the simple legal binding of appointment is not fulfilled. Other legal rights are like daydream for the tea workers. While talking about the legal rights of the tea workers and their materialization, Md. Azizul Islam, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, said, “The first condition for appointing a labourer is to issue an appointment letter, where all the terms and conditions of the job are written.” He said with regret, “Tea workers don’t even get an appointment letter. How would they know which legal rights are given to them and which are not?”

He discussed some basic rights of the workers like appointment letter, identity card, service books, labourer registration, ending owner-worker relationship, leaves according to the law, fair wages and allowances, proper education, housing, and entertainment. He said that these are legal rights of the workers, not demands; and as for the owners, depriving the workers of their rights is a punishable crime. Azizul Islam admitted his limits as a pubic servant. “We were appointed to inspect whether the workers have these rights. However, powerful owners, complicated bureaucracy, and weak laws do not allow us to properly carry out our duties,” lamented Islam. He believes that strong trade union and conscious workers are the ones who can claim their rights.

The tea workers do not have any land or house of their own. After retirement s/he is supposed to leave the labour line. The garden owners take advantage of this weakness of the workers. Senior legal counsellor of Solidarity Centre, Advocate AKM Nazism explained: “The owners deprive the workers of their gratuity or service benefits by offering their children work and allowing them to stay in the labour lines after retirement.” He argues, “Gratuity cannot be compromised for any opportunity or amenity. If it is, then it’s a clear violation of law.” He advised the leaders of Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union, “You demand gratuity at least from 2006; the garden owners are bound to give you your rights.” The participants of the workshop held that allowing the retired workers to live in the labour line on the condition that their dependents must work in the garden is forced labour, and it is a violation of the labour act.

The workers of tea industry are faced with extreme discrimination in terms of getting leaves. They do not get weekly and casual leaves. Md. Aziziul Islam explained: “The government has annulled the tea workers’ casual leave by legal provisions.” The owners use this law as a tool of exploitation. Azizul Islam said with grievance, “It is a matter of deep regret that the tea garden management does not even grant weekly leaves to the workers. What the workers get every week is weekly day-off, not weekly leave. Weekly leave means paid leave, which the workers are not given.”

Advocate Nasim questioned the labour act, “How can a country have two sets of law?” He directed questions to the government, “What is the difference between a tea worker and other workers? Why shall not the tea workers get 10-day casual leave annually like the workers in other sectors? Can’t they face inconveniences for which they might need leaves too? Why do other workers get one day of earned leave for every 18 days of work, and tea workers get one day of earned leave for every 22 days of work?”

Deputy Director of Directorate of Labour, Mohammad Giashuddin is unhappy about captivity of the tea workers and the wages they get. “The tea workers are confined to the labour lines of the tea gardens for generations, which is actually slavery,” said Giasuddin. On the wages the tea workers get he commented, “The wage of a tea worker is pathetic in its true sense. You can’t even afford a proper meal in a small hotel with their daily wage.” He talked about the necessity of a strong workers’ union to ensure the basic rights of tea workers, “A tea worker’s wage needs to be reasonable. If the same worker works outside the garden, s/he gets Tk.250-300 including one meal. Then why s/he would get Tk.69 for working in the tea garden? It is only strong trade union(s)that can play an important role in determining just wage of tea workers in accordance with the present market value.”

Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, assistant executive director of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) discussed the significance of connecting the tea workers’ union with other national and international trade unions. “The tea workers’ union must communicate or establish relations with other like-minded trade unions. This communication or connection is the ‘unity’ and ‘solidarity’ of labour movement,” Ahmed who added with confidence, “The motto of the labour movement is ‘unity and solidarity’. Every worker must remember this mantra for life.”

Describing different adversities of labour movement, Sultan Uddin Ahmed said, “Politicians see our national trade union’s relation with the international ones as a conspiracy. But, it is a legal right of the labourers. Something that is a conspiracy to owners and the government is ‘unity and solidarity’ to the workers.”

Dr. Pradip Kumar Panday, associate professor of Mass Communication and Journalism of University of Rajshahi, conducted a session on communicating tea workers’ issues and grievances to the media and others interested. One fundamental tool of communication when an anomaly or incident takes place is press release that he discussed at length. He also gave some tips about writing simple reports and organizing press conferences. On the significance of these fundamental tools of communication, Dr. Pandey said, “People need to know the problems of tea gardens and tea workers. The workers and their representatives can play a role in sensitizing the media to publish more on their issues and plights. If I am in pain, I need to let my neighbours know about it.”

In the four-day residential workshop, a full day was devoted to fieldwork. The participants, most of them from tea communities, revisited their labour lines to rethink what problems they face in their daily lives and what they need most for change. Some of the acute problems they face are poor access to sanitation system, lack of decent housing, lack of standard education, unemployment of educated young people, gender discrimination, lack of safety at work, lack of medical care, and most of all, extremely low wages. Economic deprivation is identified to be the prime factor for terrible condition of the tea workers.

In the evaluation session at the end of the workshop, the participants said that the workshop has helped develop deep understanding and feelings about unity and solidarity among the tea workers, leaders, and their union to overcome the abysmal conditions of the tea workers. Kamol Bunarjee, president of Juri Valley appreciated the workshop that SEHD organized to strengthen the union of the tea workers. “This workshop has given us a direction to stay united and expedite our efforts to secure legitimate rights of the tea workers,” said Bunarjee.

Rambhajan Kairi, general secretary of BCSU, felt the need for more such workshops for the tea union leaders. “One workshop is not enough for the union leaders. But, this one has shown us the stairs and taught us how to start climbing. Now we have to climb the rest of the stairs ourselves,” said Kairi, who hoped that there would be more such workshops in future.

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 Report by  Abdullah Al Mahdee with Philip Gain

First published: Dhaka Courier, 30 January 2015.