Ghost Workers Undermine Government Tea Estates

A troubling discovery has emerged in the government-operated tea gardens of Borolekha Upazila, Moulvibazar, where a significant number of registered workers exist only on paper. Despite being officially listed for salaries, provident fund contributions, attendance, and rations, many of these workers are either deceased, retired, or entirely fictitious. Alarmingly, these phantom workers have continued to receive government wages and allowances for over five years.

During a field visit to the New Samanbagh Tea Garden on 21 February, local employees revealed that individuals such as Dipnarayan, Sachin, Sujan, and Kabita had passed away several years prior. Yet, their names remain active on official records. Among the four government tea estates in Borolekha, New Samanbagh is the largest, employing 1,820 workers. A recent Tea Board investigation identified at least 40 deceased or retired employees and another 170 individuals drawing salaries under fabricated identities.

Investigation and Hostile Resistance

A six-member team from the Tea Board conducted a nine-day inquiry beginning 5 January, cross-referencing employment records with provident fund and ration lists. The investigation revealed extensive systemic mismanagement. On 13 January, the team encountered hostility when workers operating under fraudulent identities attacked them, holding the investigators captive for nearly 90 minutes.

The inquiry concluded that only 315 of the 1,820 registered employees had verifiable information. Records for 1,160 workers did not match national identification documents, while 80 employees over the age of 60 remained listed. These irregularities are estimated to cost the government almost 10 million BDT per month—equating to roughly 120 million BDT annually.

Production and Workforce Analysis

A comparative assessment of government versus private tea gardens highlights stark efficiency gaps:

The data illustrates that private estates achieve far higher yields with smaller workforces and land areas, emphasising inefficiencies in government operations.

Challenges and Prospects

Between 2015 and 2025, New Samanbagh received 170 million BDT for new plantings. However, 30% of the estate remains uncultivated, and the average tea bush is 45 years old, diminishing both quality and output. Irregular electricity supply further hampers production. The Tea Board has demanded the return of funds advanced as permanent deposits in October 2025, noting that proper investment could have yielded a minimum annual return of 10%.

Under the National Tea Company, which manages 12 government estates, New Samanbagh remains the largest. Chairman Mamunur Rashid acknowledged persistent production bottlenecks and announced the recruitment of 20 trainee assistant managers. The garden is also exploring green, white, yellow, and experimental teas targeting international markets.

Ongoing challenges in government tea estates include financial losses, low worker skill levels, politically motivated appointments, inadequate investment, and high-interest loans. Nevertheless, with targeted reforms, modern management practices, and focused workforce training, New Samanbagh has the potential to significantly enhance operational efficiency, reduce government expenditure, and improve both tea quality and market competitiveness.