Platform threatens to lay siege to industries ministry demanding reopening of 6 sugar mills
The committee issued an ultimatum to the current interim government, highlighting three key demands.
The National Committee to Protect State-owned Sugar Mills has announced a "Ministry of Industries Siege" programme for March 31, demanding the immediate reopening of six state-owned sugar mills that were shuttered during the previous Awami League administration.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club today (7 February), where the committee also declared a series of protest demonstrations across all functional and closed sugar mills through March to build momentum for the siege.
Addressing the press briefing, Central Convener Kamruzzaman Firoz expressed frustration over the lack of progress, noting that a decision to modernise and reopen the six closed mills was reached during a November 2024 meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and leaders of the National Ganofront and National Mukti Council.
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While an official ordinance was later issued to facilitate the reopening, the committee alleged that the Ministry of Finance failed to allocate the necessary funds and instead issued instructions to suspend sugarcane crushing operations.
The committee issued an ultimatum to the current interim government, highlighting three key demands: the immediate reopening of the six closed mills to protect local economies, the implementation of anti-corruption measures within the sugar industry, and the modernisation of outdated state-run mill infrastructure to ensure long-term viability.
The written statement was read by Joint Convener Nur Rahman Polash. Other notable attendees included Tipu Biswas, President of the National Krishak Khetmajur Samiti; Faizul Hakim, Central Coordinator of the National Mukti Council; and several CBA leaders from the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC).
The speakers emphasised that the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers depend on the mills. They warned that if the government does not take visible steps toward modernisation and funding by the March 31 deadline, the planned siege at the Ministry of Industries will proceed.
