Awareness and Advocacy Meeting on Tea Garden Women Workers’ Rights
On February 26, 2025, Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) organized a meeting titled “Awareness and Advocacy Meeting on Tea Garden Women Workers’ Rights” in the conference hall of a prestigious hotel in Sylhet city. The event was organized with local media, civil society organizations (CSOs), government and non-government officials, and other stakeholders in Sylhet to influence decision making level, which will help to ensure decent workplace for tea-garden women workers. Journalists, CSO members, government and non-government officials, and representatives from various NGOs actively participated in the discussion.
The meeting was conducted under the project “Leadership Development of Tea-Garden Women Workers on Their Rights”, supported by OXFAM in Bangladesh and co-funded by the European Union (EU).
The event was chaired by ECDO’s Executive Director, Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh, Notable attendees included Ms. Dr. Anika Tabassum, Medical Officer of the Civil Surgeon Office (CSO) Sylhet; Mr. Mainuddin, President of Sylhet District Press Club; Ms. Suborna Hamid, President of the Women Journalist Association, Sylhet; and Mr. Shakib Ahmed Mitu, General Secretary of Electronic Media Journalist Association (EMJA).
EMJA General Secretary Mr. Shakib Ahmed Mitu strongly voiced concerns about the ongoing struggles faced by the women tea workers. He emphasized the need for collective action to address their challenges and ensure their rights are upheld.
Women Journalist Association President Ms. Suborna Hamid light on the role of the media in highlighting the rights of tea workers. However, she pointed out that while journalists actively report on their struggles, they often do not take further steps to seek real solutions.
Sylhet District Press Club President Mr. Mainuddin echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging the crucial role of media workers in advocating for tea workers’ rights. He stressed that while it may not be possible to completely eliminate all challenges, sincere collective efforts can lead to meaningful and lasting change. He called upon all stakeholders—including journalists, policymakers, and the civil society to be more proactive in addressing these long-standing issues.
Sylhet Civil Surgeon Office Medical Officer Ms. Dr. Anika Tabassum highlighted the healthcare services being provided in tea gardens by the Civil Surgeon Office, Sylhet. She spoke specifically about the distribution of essential medical equipment to pregnant women to ensure their well-being during their pregnancy period. Additionally, she mentioned that medical camps are organized every two months in tea gardens to provide healthcare support to workers. However, she raised concerns that despite repeated requests for garden authorities to send workers in need of medical attention, many are not being referred for treatment. She questioned why this was happening and stressed the importance of ensuring that tea workers receive the healthcare they deserve.
In his closing remarks, ECDO’s Executive Director Mr. Lakshmikanta Singh highlighted the various initiatives undertaken by ECDO to empower women tea workers and develop their leadership skills. He emphasized the importance of equipping women in tea gardens with the necessary knowledge and resources to advocate for their rights and improve their working and living conditions. He encouraged continuous support and collaboration from all sectors to bring about real change in the lives of tea workers, particularly women.
