A rally demanding a daily wage of Tk 500 for tea workers was marred by allegations of assault on protesters by leaders of a faction of the Tea Workers' Union in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, on Monday, August 31, 2026.

At least 10 to 12 protesters were injured in the incident, according to the organisers. Several of the injured were sent to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital for treatment.

The incident took place around noon after a human chain at Sreemangal Chowmuhona, when the protesters were marching towards the Labour House, the organisers said.

Tea worker leader Gita Rani Kanu said they had initially planned to march towards the DDL and the upazila nirbahi officer's office after obtaining police permission.

While crossing the road opposite the Tea Workers' Union office, we were attacked, she alleged.

She claimed the attackers snatched away their banner and started beating the protesters.

We will not back down from our demand for a daily wage of Tk 500, Gita said.

Another tea worker leader, Akash Dosad, said they had conducted campaigns in different tea gardens before organising the human chain at Chowmuhona.

After the human chain, they marched towards the Labour House. He alleged that the protesters were attacked when they were returning after crossing the road and moving a short distance away.

According to Akash, tea worker leader Dulal Hazra first tore their banner apart. He alleged that Parash Kalindi, finance secretary of the Tea Workers' Union, and leader Subash Rabidas then caught several protesters and took them towards the gate of the union office.

There, Union General Secretary Nipen Pal, Balishira Valley president and Bangladesh Tea Workers' Union organising secretary Bijoy Hazra, Sumon Hazra and several others allegedly beat them, he claimed.

Akash said 10 to 12 protesters were injured in the attack. Among them, Jonkolal Deshwara, Radhamohan Nunia and Gita Rani Kanu were sent to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital, he said.

The protesters alleged that a section of the Tea Workers' Union attacked them for organising the programme demanding a Tk 500 daily wage. They demanded a proper investigation and punishment of those responsible.

However, Parash Kalindi, finance secretary of the Tea Workers' Union, denied the allegations of assault.

He claimed that after the human chain, a group of protesters attempted to enter the Labour House office and hurled abusive remarks at the union leaders, who were attending a programme on the upper floor of the building.

After the office was attacked and vandalised, our people came downstairs and chased them away," he said.

Parash also denied the allegation that protesters were caught and beaten in front of police.

Regarding the torn banner, he claimed that the protesters themselves tore the banner while crossing the road. His associates then came out of the office shouting, he said.

He also said he did not have any video footage showing the alleged attack or vandalism inside the office.

Bijoy Hazra also denied the allegation of assault. He said the protesters tried to enter the union office and were stopped, leading to tension between the two sides.

Police arrived immediately and separated both sides, he said.

However, video footage obtained from the scene appears to show several tea worker leaders chasing and assaulting protesters.

The footage does not show the protesters entering the Tea Workers' Union office. Rather, it shows them moving to the opposite side of the road after the programme.

A number of tea worker leaders are then seen running towards the protesters, grabbing some of them, tearing their banner apart and beating several people. The footage also appears to show police personnel present at the scene during the incident.

Contacted at 9:21pm on Monday, August 31, Sreemangal Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdullah Al Mamun said a group of tea workers had organised a human chain in the afternoon.

Later, a group of eight to 10 people tried to enter the Tea Workers' Union office, leading to a scuffle between the two sides, he said.

Police rushed to the spot and separated both groups, the OC said.

He said no written complaint had been filed with the police station by either side as of 9:21pm on Monday.

If we receive a complaint, we will investigate the matter and take necessary legal action, he said.