Agitators stop work at Kazi Farms in Thakurgaon

Local workers forcibly stopped operation of all the farms of Kazi Farms Ltd in the district on Wednesday demanding immediate reappointment of sacked workers at the farms and cancellation of the transfer of local workers to different set-ups of the organisation in other districts.

The workers belonging to Thakurgaon Transport Workers' Union, Thakurgaon District Truck, Tank Lorry and Covered Van Workers' Union and Thakurgaon Kuli Sramik Union are jointly continuing movement to realise their three-point demand that also include appointment of workers from local people instead of those from other areas.    

The workers locked the office of the general manager of the organisation at Sarkarpara in Thakurgaon municipality on Wednesday and continued staying in front of the farms including Yakubpur Kazi Farm, Kazi Feed Mills Ltd at Salondar in Sadar upazila, and Habibpur Poultry Hatchery in Pirganj upazila of the district. 

The workers alleged that the authorities of Kazi Group oppressed local workers and sacked them on different pretexts. 

On March 14, the authority of Habibpur Poultry Hatchery in suddenly suspended 15/16 of its local workers showing cause of 'bio security'. Besides, over 10 local low-income workers and security guards of the poultry hatchery were transferred to other farms of the group in distant districts of the country, the agitators said.    

Afterwards, the movement spread to other farms of the group including Salondar Kazi Poultry Feed where the authorities sacked a good number of labourers and appointed new workers from Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and other districts.   

Robiul Islam, manager of Kazi Farm Ltd, alleged that the workers illegally forced them to stop work at the farms and threatened employees not to enter the offices on Thursday. 

"The farm has its rules and it will run its activities accordingly," he said.