Workers, employees protest demanding resumption of production at Ashuganj fertilizer factory
Workers and employees have staged a protest rally and gathering demanding the resumption of gas supply to Brahmanbaria's Ashuganj fertilizer factory, which has remained closed for nearly eight months due to a gas shortage.
The programme was held around 8:30am today (29 October) in front of the Ashuganj fertilizer factory under the initiative of the factory's Workers-Employees Union.
While in production, gas supply to the Ashuganj fertiliser factory was cut off on 1 March by the Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Ltd authorities.
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As a result, the production of at least 1,150 tonnes of urea per day has been disrupted — equivalent to a market value of around Tk4.5 crore. To maintain normal production, the factory requires around 48 million cubic feet of gas daily.
The protest rally was presided over by Md Bazlur Rashid, president of the Workers-Employees Union. Among others, Deputy General Manager (Administration) Tazul Islam Bhuiyan, General Secretary of the Union Md Abu Kawsar, and Organising Secretary of Bangladesh Chemical Workers Federation Md Harunur Rashid spoke at the event.
Speakers said that Ashuganj fertiliser factory's urea is in high demand due to its superior quality. Keeping the factory operational benefits the government, they added. However, a vested quarter keeps the gas supply suspended for most of the year to profit from importing fertilisers from abroad and pocketing commissions. As a result, the factory is gradually turning into a loss-making enterprise.
The speakers warned that if gas supply and production are not restored immediately, they would blockade the Dhaka–Sylhet Highway. After the rally, the participants brought out a protest procession on the factory premises.
