Staff Reporter : Bangladesh Bidi Sramik Federation called for Five-point demand including withdrawal of tariff and advance income tax on bidis.
They organized a human chain in front of the National Press Club Dhaka premises on Thursday, according to a press release.
The Five points included that withdrawal of tariff and advance income tax on bidis, removeing BAT’s cigarette factories from residential areas, enaction of health protection law for bidi workers, stopping production and sale of fake bidis and a committee must be formed to prevent fake bidis under the leadership of the DC.
General Secretary of Bangladesh Bidi Shramik Federation Harik Hossain presided over the program while its president Amin Uddin BSC, Vice President Nazim Uddin, Anower Hossain, Joint Secretary Abdul Gofur, Abul Hasnat Lavlu, Organizing Secretary Shamim Islam addressed the human chain.
Around Thousand of workers from different parts of the country joined protest.
Federation’s President Amin Uddin BSC said: ‘The conspiracy to the Bidi industry will not be tolerated in any way. If there is any plan to increase the taxes on the Bidi in the budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, we will form a rigid movement with 18 lakh Bidi workers.’
General Secretary Harik Hossain said: Due to the increase in tariffs, unscrupulous traders are making fake bidis and marketing them to evade the tariff. The government is being deprived of huge amount of revenue. The customs authorities to take necessary steps to halt unlawful bidi manufacturers and counterfeit bidi. They should be arrested and punished. At the same times BAT’s illegal Cigarette factories must be removed immediately from the Mohakhali DOHS residential area.