United News of Bangladesh

The arrears of Beximco workers will be paid by February, after selling the mortgaged shares of the Beximco Pharma and Shinepukur Ceramics, said Labour and Employment Adviser Brig. Gen (retd) Dr Sakhawat Hossain on Tuesday. The adviser came up with the announcement at a press conference held at the Secretariat in Dhaka. Earlier, he attended a meeting of the Advisory Council Committee to review the labour and business situation of Beximco Industrial Park. Sakhawat said Tk 550 to 600 crore would be needed to pay the arrears of the workers of all lay-off organizations of the Beximco. “The government will pay the salaries and allowances by February once this amount isn’t managed by selling the shares,” he said. Read: Beximco’s closed factory won’t reopen: Adviser Sakhawat The adviser said the Beximco group took Tk 28544.14 crore from 12 banks as loans and it would be investigated how the loans were approved. It is a bigger scam (loan) than theft of one billion reserves from Bangladesh Bank, he thinks.

Labour and Employment Affairs Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr Sakhawat Hussain has said that it is not feasible to reopen the closed factory of Beximco Industrial Park. "For some time, the environment was peaceful. Suddenly, yesterday, they (workers) organised an assembly and presented three demands. I believe it is impossible for any government to fulfil these demands as they are highly unreasonable,” he said. Beximco workers' protest foiled amid tight surveillance in Gazipur “Despite this, they announced they would form a human chain and block roads. They followed through, and we did not intervene. Police were deployed, but they were not obstructed,” said Sakhawat, who is also the convener of the Advisory Council Committee for reviewing the labour and business situation of industrial institutions in Beximco Industrial Park, on Thursday. The labour affairs adviser was speaking during a press conference on Thursday at the Secretariat. Beximco workers block Chandra-Nabinagar highway, 3 vehicles set on fire Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin and Home Affairs Adviser Lt General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury were present at the time, among others. "We assumed, and still assume, they would present their demands responsibly, and we have no objections to that. However, what happened yesterday was unprecedented. Over 100 buses were burned, and various establishments were vandalised. This should not have occurred. It has never happened before. Why did this suddenly happen? We will investigate. I believe this is completely irresponsible. Those leading this have acted deceitfully and nearly created a significant crisis,” he added. "Extreme patience was shown, but that patience was not respected. During yesterday's meeting, the secretary spoke, and they assured us they would engage peacefully. Today, they came and spoke. So far, no one has been physically harmed, but now it seems this restraint is being perceived as a weakness. Many police officers have been injured. They even attacked the police and set army vehicles on fire," Sakhawat also said. Beximco Industrial Park workers block highway in Gazipur over wages Asked whether there was any possibility of reopening the closed Beximco factory, Sakhawat replied, "With what? How?" Responding to concerns about whether buyers might refrain from engaging with Beximco, he said, "Buyers will not come. Who will take responsibility for these assets? (Referring to Beximco's financial state) Is it possible to operate a factory under these circumstances? Will you run it?" Employees of Beximco have demanded a loan of Tk 700 crore by mortgaging 23 acres of land. When asked about this, Sakhawat responded, "That land is already mortgaged."

Workers of Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur’s Kashimpur failed to stage a protest on Thursday due to heavy surveillance by law enforcement agencies. Md Abu Taleb, senior assistant superintendent of police, Gazipur Industrial Police-2 (Konabari zone), said that an adequate number of police along with army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel, were deployed around the Chandra-Nabinagar highway and the industrial park to maintain order. Beximco workers block Chandra-Nabinagar highway, 3 vehicles set on fire Workers have been protesting for several days, demanding the reopening of 16 closed factories within the industrial park, banking facilities, and the settlement of unpaid dues. Despite plans to gather for a protest this morning, the workers were unable to proceed due to the heightened security measures. Beximco Industrial Park workers block highway in Gazipur over wages Earlier on Wednesday, protesters had blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar highway, causing significant traffic congestion. The demonstration escalated into violence, with protesters vandalising approximately 50 vehicles and setting some on fire. Police resorted to tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd and restore order.