Our Forgotten Communities
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...
Training on Strengthening Organizations of Tea Workers and Adivasis
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...
Perpetuating injustice against tea-workers
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...
Journalists Trained in In-depth Reporting on Tea Workers and Ethnic Communities
“The rights of the tea workers have remained neglected for a long time. The journalists, through their professional aptitude, have a responsibility to raise their issues and have them included in the national agenda,” said Rambhajan Kairi, General Secretary,...
SEHD Launches three new books and one documentary film
SEHD Launched its three new books: (i) Shores of Tear, (ii) Bangladesh: Land, Forest and Forest People (English, 3rd Edition), and (iii) The Environmental Impacts of the Pulp and Paper Industry in Bangladesh and one documentary film, "Shores of Tear" at...
An eviction decree, its execution, and the fate of seven Mahle families
Philip GainIt is like a scene of war-time devastation in a tiny Mahle village, Pachandor, in Tanor upazila (Rajshahi). Houses with thick mud walls and corrugated tin roofs have been leveled to the ground. Food grain, utensils, beds, clothes, cash, and...
Strengthening from within: Enabling change for Bangladesh’s little-known ethnic communities
In June 2011, without any consideration or consultation with indigenous communities, the Constitution (Fifteenth Amendment) Bill, 2011 was passed, which made all the citizens of the country “Bangalee” by nationality thus forcing homogeneity upon Bangladesh’s...
EU ambassador visits labour line, condemns extreme low wages to tea workers
EU ambassador among a tea community in a labour line in Alynagar Tea Estate. © Saydur Rahman “The workers in Bangladesh tea industry DO NOT get decent wage, this is NOT fair, this is NOT just,” ambassador of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh William Hanna said during...
The EU ambassador visited tea communities in their labour line in Srimongol
The EU ambassador visited tea communities in their labour line in Srimongol on 17 March 2014. He condemned extreme low wages to tea workers. EU ambassador visits labour line, condemns extremelow wages to tea workersMd. Ashraful Haque “The workers in...