Ultimatum to coal mine authorities
Bangladeshi miners at Barapukuria Coal Mine yesterday threatened to go for an indefinite strike if the lay-off notices served on 160 miners were not withdrawn by 4:00pm today.
They gave the ultimatum to Barapukuria Coal Mine Company Limited (BCMCL) from a rally held in front of a gate of the coalmine at 4:00 pm.
The miners also demanded that the authorities of BCMCL resume coal production, which has remained suspended since May 11. One miner was killed and 18 others were injured in a roof collapse inside the coalmine on the day.
CMC-XMC Consortium, the contracted company of Barapukuria Coal Mine, laid off 160 Bangladesh miners on June 29 for five days. Protesting the decision of CMC-XMC, Bangladeshi miners staged a demonstration inside the BCMCL complex demanding withdrawal of the lay- off notices.
A meeting between Bangladeshi miners, BCMCL and CMC-XMC held on Wednesday over the issue but ended inconclusively. Since then the miners have been agitating inside the coal mine to press home their demands.
Apprehending deterioration of law and order inside the BCMCL complex, the authorities yesterday hung a notice at two entrances to the coalmine, directing the Bangladeshi miners not to enter the complex without further notice. Police have been deployed at the two gates.
Angered by the authorities' notice, prohibiting entry of the miners into the BCMCL complex, the miners staged sit-in and a rally in front of a gate of the coalmine. They gave a 24-hour ultimatum to BCMCL authorities to meet their demands.
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