The Rangpur District Bidi Sramik Union on Monday formed a human chain demanding withdrawal of 10 per cent advance income tax imposed on bidis.
Thousands of bidi workers joined the human chain in front of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce around 11:30 am to press home their five-point charter of demands.
Their five-point demands are taking steps not to issue licence on the bidi factory, shutting fake bidi companies, introducing a law to protect the workers and entrepreneurs in the bidi industry.
Addressing the human chain, the speakers said that the livelihood of the helpless, extremely poor, physically handicapped, widows and many other families of society depends on the bidi industry.
The country's founding president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared bidi industry duty-free considering the common people and helpless workers of this country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her budget speech for the fiscal year 2009-2010, directed a reduction in the duty on bidis and an increase in the duty on cigarettes. But cigarette companies used some of the country's corrupt bureaucrats to impose exorbitant taxes on bidis, they claimed.
Following the matter, bidi factory owners were being forced to close their factories as they could not bear the tax burden.
They strongly condemned and protested against the conspiracy. The workers, at the same time, demanded the introduction of social security schemes for the welfare of bidi factory owners and workers.
Bidi workers leaders Amin Uddin, Abdur Rahman, Harik Hossain, Abdul Gafur, Shamim Islam, Anowar Hossain and Abul Hasnat (Lavlu) spoke on the occasion, among others.
