Several thousand workers of 24 tea gardens in the district abstained from work yesterday, demanding that the government cancel the move to set up a special economic zone (SEZ) at Chunarughat.

Makhan Lal Karmaker, president of Bangladesh Tea Labour Union, threatened that workers of all 164 tea gardens across the country will go on an indefinite strike if the demand is not met by December 28.

"We will submit a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Habiganj tomorrow [today]. We will observe work abstention for two hours every day at all the tea gardens from Monday.

"If the administration does not take any decision [to meet our demand], we will go on an indefinite strike from December 28," Makhan said.

The union leader issued the ultimatum while addressing a rally at Chandpara, the chosen site of the proposed SEZ.

Workers of four tea gardens in Chunarughat meanwhile passed the sixth day of an indefinite strike demanding cancellation of the government move.

The current lessee of the land is Duncan Brothers Bangladesh Ltd, a British firm. M Nurul Alam, director of the firm, told The Daily Star he had not received any formal letter regarding establishment of the economic zone.

Additional forces have been deployed in the area to avoid any untoward situation, said Amulya Kumar Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Chunarughat police.