Plucking of tea-leaves has brought self-reliance to some 10,000 female farm-labourers in the fast-expanding tea sector on the 'Karotoa Valley' ecological zone in the northern region, reports BSS.
Along with bringing wellbeing to their families by earning through plucking green tea leaves, the women have improved their standard of living and their well-dressed children are now going to schools.
Talking to the news agency, female tea-garden labourers, including housewives, widows, divorcees and unemployed young girls said they are effectively contributing now to their families for living with dignity and honour.
"We are drinking safe water, using sanitary latrines, adopting family planning, stopping child marriage, taking healthcare and living better with our earnings," tea-garden worker Lovely Begum of village Danagoachh in Tentulia upazila of Panchagarh said.
Labourers Aklima Khatun of Moynaguri, Phuli Begum of Kandaligoachh, Mariyam of Guchchagram, Rozina of Narayangoachh and Halima of Dodhigoach villages in Tentulia upazila said they are plucking tea-leaves for the last 10 to 12 years.
Labourers Shyamoli, Joytsna Begum and Mukta Rani of these villages said they are earning daily wages between Tk 250 to Tk 300 on an average by plucking tea-leaves in the tea gardens.
"Earlier, I passed my days desolately. Now, I earn up to Tk 300 as wages per day to lead better life with my children," said widow Sokhina of Danagoachh village under Tentulia upazila.
Similarly, female labourers Laboni Yasmin, Morsheda, Azmeri Begum and Kohinoor of Panchagarh Sadar said they are plucking tea-laves to lead a better life.
The female tea-garden labourers expressed their happiness at sending their children to schools as plucking of tea-leaves has created job opportunity for them to earn wages for improving their economic condition.
However, they said there almost no concrete rules regarding labour law, working period, appointment letter and minimum wage and healthcare facilities, maintaining register books, safety and security measures for them so far.
"We are hopeful the authorities concerned will resolve these problems for our better future as the tea sector is growing fast on the valley," Azmeri Begum added.
Vice-president of Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mehedi Hasan Khan Babla said the boosting tea sector on the 'Karotoa Valley' is enhancing economy along with creating huge employments for unemployed women.
"By plucking green tea leaves, around 10,000 poor women are already leading improved life with a dream of building better future for their children following their well-being and empowerment," Babla said.
Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Tea Board at Panchagarh regional office Dr Mohammad Shameem Al Mamun said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina first launched `small-scale gardening-basis' tea cultivation in plain land of Panchagarh in 2000.
Since then, tea cultivation continues increasing and its commercial basis farming began in 2005 as the farmers found `small-scale gardening-basis' tea cultivation on plain lands highly profitable in the area.
"An all-time record 8.46 million kg 'made-tea' worth about Tk 2.06 billion was produced in the 'Karotoa Valley' in 2018 which is higher by 57 per cent than the output of 5.44 million kgs of 'made tea' in 2017," Dr. Shameem added.
Last year, tea was cultivated on 7,645 acres of lands in the valley comprising of five northern districts as tea cultivation is expanding every year following implementation of various pragmatic steps by the present government.
"The number of tea-garden labourers, especially tea-leaves plucking female labourers is increasing every year with faster expansion of the highly proactive tea sector on the Karotoa Valley," he added.