To address the escalating labour unrest at Beximco factories, the Bangladesh government has announced an emergency loan package to clear overdue wages for October. The loan, facilitated by the Labour Ministry and Finance Division, seeks to restore normal operations within the company’s facilities.
Labour Ministry Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman communicated the announcement through an official notice, urging workers to resume their duties promptly across all Beximco locations in the Ashulia-Chandra region. The Government underscored its commitment to resolving the ongoing crisis and called for immediate action from the workforce.
Protests erupted when workers at multiple Beximco factories organised demonstrations due to the delayed payment of salaries. There have been consecutive days of unrest, with hundreds of employees obstructing the Chandra-Nabinagar highway near the Chakraborty intersection in the Sarabo area of Kashimpur, Gazipur. Protests intensified as demonstrators resumed their blockade after a brief pause, significantly disrupting transportation and trade along this crucial route.
Beximco management appreciated the government’s intervention, assuring that pending salaries would be disbursed as soon as the funds are received. The Finance Division is expected to release the loan within the next 48 hours, which should facilitate the resumption of regular factory operations.
Despite these assurances, workers have vowed to continue their protests until they receive their full wages. Local police have been deployed to ensure order amid the tense situation. Labour rights organisations advocate for sustainable solutions to prevent future wage-related disruptions within Bangladesh’s vital manufacturing sector.
The ongoing events shed light on the persistent challenges of timely wage payment and worker welfare in the country’s critical industrial landscape.
