A peaceful sit-in demonstration was organized by the Barapukuria Coal Mine Workers-Employees Union in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, demanding the immediate reinstatement of 171 workers from mining-affected local communities who were abruptly terminated from service.
The demonstration took place at the Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Limited (BCMCL) precinct on Thursday (October 15, 2026). Union President Md. Rahinul Islam and Union Secretary Md. Rahenur Islam, alongside affected workers, addressed the demonstration. Speakers highlighted that the 171 local workers—who had originally suffered loss of land and homesteads due to coal mining operations—were appointed on June 8, 2018, under the Chinese consortium contractor operating at BCMCL. However, on August 16, 2026, the BCMCL authority dismissed all 171 workers without prior notice, severance, or adherence to existing national labor laws.
Demanding immediate governmental and ministerial intervention, union leaders emphasized that the illegal dismissal has plunged 171 local families into severe financial distress, leaving elderly parents and children facing destitution. They urged authorities to respect labor legislation and restore their employment. When contacted regarding the protest and reinstatement demands, BCMCL Managing Director Shah Alam declined to provide an official statement.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Manjurul Alam, Parbatipur (Dinajpur) • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
