Md. Nur Islam Noyon :
The Bangladesh Livestock AI Technician Welfare Association, Dinajpur District Branch, held an emergency meeting in Dinajpur to demand an end to long-standing deprivation, implementation of government promises, and fair employment. At the same time, the leaders of the organization have announced to continue the ongoing indefinite strike until the demands are met.
The meeting held at the Dinajpur Press Club auditorium on Sunday (July 5) was presided over by Bangladesh Livestock AI Technician Welfare Association, Dinajpur District Branch President Md. Selim Badsha. The meeting was moderated and delivered by the district branch general secretary Md. Rabiul Islam.
Thakurgaon District Branch President Md. Saiful Islam and General Secretary Md. Abu Sayeed spoke as special guests.
AI technicians from various upazilas of Dinajpur district, who have been working under the Department of Livestock for a long time without pay and allowances, participated in the meeting. Among them, Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Branch President Md. Rakibul Islam, Member Md. Imran Ali, Birol Upazila Branch President Joyraj Roy, Birampur Upazila Branch President Shah Alam, General Secretaries Md. Shahjahan and Md. Rezaul Karim, Bochaganj Upazila Branch Vice President Md. Anwar Hossain, Kaharol Upazila Branch President Anwarul Islam and General Secretary Hamidul Hasan, and leaders of various upazilas spoke.
The speakers said that AI technicians have been playing an important role in the development of livestock, expansion of artificial insemination (AI) activities and increase in animal meat production in the country for almost three decades. But they have been serving without pay and allowances for a long 30 years. They claim that they are forced to live inhumane lives with their families while waiting for the government to fulfill its various promises and assurances.
The speakers at the meeting further claimed that although they were previously given a monthly honorarium of Tk 2,000, that too has been stopped. According to their statement, about Tk 12 crore was deposited in the government’s revenue sector through AI activities in the last fiscal year. However, despite all this contribution, their just demands have not been implemented yet.
They further said that in the wake of the previous movement, the Finance Ministry had approved the recruitment of 495 AI technicians through outsourcing, but later, after a writ petition was filed by an organization, the program was suspended by a court order.
The speakers claim that there are currently 5,272 AI technicians working across the country. As part of their just demands, an indefinite strike is being observed across the country from July 1, 2026, demanding the issuance of a government notification to include them under daily attendance-based employment.
The leaders announced from the meeting that their peaceful movement and strike will continue until their demands are implemented. At the same time, they sought effective intervention from the relevant government ministries and the Department of Livestock to resolve the issue quickly.
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