A massive human chain program was held in Nilphamari demanding a threefold increase in salaries and allowances for branch post office employees, along with their recognition as departmental staff. Under the banner of the Bangladesh Postal Employees Union, Nilphamari District Branch, the program was observed at the busy Chourangi Intersection in the district town on Thursday (July 9) at noon. A large number of employees from branch post offices across the district and various upazilas participated in the event.
Presided over by Jikrullah Haq, President of the Bangladesh Postal Employees Union, Nilphamari District Branch, the human chain rally was conducted by its General Secretary, Jamil Ahmed. Hossain Md. Selim Reza, Vice-President of the Bangladesh Postal Employees Union, attended the program as the chief guest.
Highlighting the sufferings and the rationality of the employees' demands, speeches were delivered by Rezaul Karim, Branch Postmaster of Dimla Upazila; Habibur Rahman, Branch Postmaster of Saidpur; Anisul Haque Shah, Branch Postmaster of Sadar Upazila; and Syed Faruk, Branch Postmaster.
In his speech, chief guest Hossain Md. Selim Reza said, "To survive in the current market conditions, a threefold increase in salaries and allowances, and recognition as departmental employees are now our core demands." He strongly urged the government to immediately accept this long-standing demand of postal employees across the country and eliminate the existing disparity.
Expressing his grievances, the organization's General Secretary, Jamil Ahmed, stated that employees at various levels of the branch post offices currently receive an honorarium or salary ranging from only four thousand to about six thousand Taka, which is utterly unacceptable in this high-priced market. Despite performing all government responsibilities properly, they are facing extreme negligence and living a miserable life with their families.
Following the hour-long human chain program, the protesting employees marched to the Nilphamari Deputy Commissioner's office. There, a memorandum was handed over to Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nayiruzzaman to ensure the swift implementation of their 2-point demand. The Deputy Commissioner accepted the memorandum and assured them of forwarding the matter to the higher authorities.
