Habiganj: Tea garden workers staged a demonstration at Chandpur tea garden in Chunarghat upazila on Saturday demanding cancellation of the plan to set up special economic zone (SEZ).

Witnesses said several thousand workers of 23 tea gardens, including Surma tea garden, Tejiaparea tea garden and Nayapara tea garden, gathered in the area at about 10:00am and held a protest rally.

Member secretary of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port Anu Muhammad, Oikya NAP president Pankaj Bhattacharya and former Habiganj mayor Fozle Hasan Badsha addressed the rally.

They urged the government to establish an environment friendly zone in the area instead of setting up economic zone.

Meanwhile, a group of locals, led by local Awami League and BNP leaders, organised a human chain in Deorgas area near Chandpur tea garden at about 10:30am, demanding the construction of the economic zone immediately.

Earlier, the government took a decision to establish a special economic zone on 511 acres of lands in tea states at Chandpur in Habiganj Upazila.

Workers from four tea gardens in Chunarughat upazila has been continuing their strike for about one month, demanding cancellation of the plan.