The government might close the state-owned Pabna Sugar Mills and some other mills in the country in near future.
In protest of the government’s possible move to close down the mills, workers and employees of sugar mills and sugarcane famers began a nationwide movement on Saturday with a five point-demand to protect the interest of the sugar industry and not to close down the mills.
The Bangladesh Sugar Industry Corporation Workers-Employees Federation called the nationwide movement following the government’s move. Leaders of the platform said that they would continue movement until their demand is fulfilled.
As part of the nationwide movement, the sugar mills workers and employees staged demonstration in Pabna, Jhenaidah, Natore and some other parts of the country.
Hundreds of workers and employees staged demonstration in front of the main of Pabna Sugar Mills at Ishwardi in Pabna and staged demonstration, reports our Ishwardi Correspondent.
Awami League leader Mukhlesur Rahman Mintu, president of Sugercane Farmers’ Federation Shahjahan Ali Badsha, presidnet of Suger Mills Employees Workers Union Sajedul Islam Shaheen, general secretray Ashrafuzzaman Ujjal and Krishak League leader Murad Ali Maltiha spoke at demonstration rally,
among others.
At the time, acting chairman of Ishwardi Upazila Parishad Abdus Salam Khan, Chairman of Dashuria Union Parishad Bakul Sarder and Chairman of Solimpur Union Parishad Abdul Majid Bablu Malitha were also present, among others.
Meanwhile, hundreds of sugarcane farmers along with workers and employees of state-owned Mobarakganj Sugar Mills staged demonstration in front of main gate of the mills in Jhenaidah, reports our Roving Correspondent.
Presided over by Jahurul Islam, president of Mobarakganj Workers and Employees Union president Golam Rasul, general secretary Shariful Islam, Masudur Rahman Mantu, Fazer Ali, farmers Jahur Ali and Akas Ali spoke, among others.
On the other hand, sugar mills workers, employees and sugarcane farmers in Natore staged a sit-in and human chain protesting the closure of sugar mills, reports our Natore Correspondent
The protest was held in front of the main gate of Natore Sugar Mills under the joint initiative of Bangladesh Sugar Mills Corporation Workers Federation and Bangladesh Sugar Mills Sugarcane Farmers Federation under police protection.
At the time, under the chairmanship of SM Firoz, President of Natore Sugar Mills Workers Employees Unin, pMoslem Uddin, Vice-President of the Sugarcane Farmers Federation, Moyez Uddin Sardar, General Secretary of Natore Sugar Mills Farmers' Welfare Assosiation and others spoke.
The speakers protested against the closure of the sugar mills and demanded immediate payment of all arrears as well as the commencement of production at the sugar mills.
It may be mentioned that the Pabna Sugar Mills is located at Dashuria union under Ishwardi upazila of Pabna. The government is thinking to close down the mills due to incurring a loss of more than Tk 400 crore in 20 years.
Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation has already sent a letter to the ministry concerend in this regard. If the ministry decides, the mills will be closed down. Apart from Pabna Sugar Mills, five other sugar mills in Kushtia, Setabganj, Rangpur, Shampur and Panchagarh are also on the list of being shut down.
Pabna Sugar Mills was set up on December 27 in 1992 on 60 acres of land at Pakuria Mouza under Dashuria Union. The experimental production of the mills started in the sugarcane harvessting season in the 1997-98 fiscal year. The mills started commercial sugar production in FY 1998-99. Production deficit and loss in the mills started since the beginning. Since the launching, the total loss has been accounted around Tk 400 crore.
Managing Director of Pabna Sugar Mills Md. Saif Uddin said, “We have not received any letter from the concerned department regarding the closure. However, he said that he had heard about it.”
