Workers in hardship as coal import suspended in Sunamganj

At least 10,000 workers are passing hard days and the government is deprived of huge revenue as coal import through land customs stations at Borochhara, Charagoan and Bagli in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj has remained suspended for over a year.

The suspension followed filing of a case by an environmental organisation with the High Court of India, alleging that unplanned coal extraction from mines in the hills of Meghalaya was causing environmental degradation and posing threat to the lives of the coal workers, coal importers' sources said.

About 10,000 workers involved in loading, unloading and carrying of coal are now struggling to maintain their families and over 400 traders involved with coal import are incurring huge losses due to the situation, said Alkas Uddin Khandaker, president of Chargaon Coal Importers' Association.

"Many of us are now finding it difficult to manage three square meals for our families," said Abdul Barik, general secretary of Bagli Land Port Sramik Sangha.

Customs office sources said the government is being deprived of about Tk one crore revenue daily due to suspension of coal import.

The situation has left the workers unemployed and it may lead to increase of theft and robbery incidents in the area, said Kamruzzaman Kamrul, chairman of Tahirpur upazila parishad.