Workers, employees demand production resumption at Ashuganj fertiliser factory

Workers and employees of the Ashuganj Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited in Brahmanbaria staged a protest rally today (29 October), demanding the immediate resumption of gas supply to the factory, which has remained shut for nearly eight months due to a gas shortage.

The protest, organised by the factory's Workers-Employees Union, began around 8:30am in front of the factory gate.

According to factory sources, while in operation, the gas supply to the fertiliser factory was suspended on 1 March by the authorities of Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Ltd.

As a result, the factory has been forced to halt the daily production of about 1,150 tonnes of urea, worth roughly Tk4.5 crore in the market. To sustain normal operations, the plant requires around 48 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Presiding over the rally, Workers-Employees Union President Md Bazlur Rashid said the prolonged shutdown was causing significant losses to the national economy. 

Deputy General Manager (Administration) Tazul Islam Bhuiyan, Union General Secretary Md Abu Kawsar, and Bangladesh Chemical Workers Federation Organising Secretary Md Harunur Rashid also addressed the gathering.

Participants alleged that a vested group was deliberately keeping the gas supply suspended to profit from fertiliser imports and commissions. 

This action is pushing the factory towards losses despite strong demand for its high-quality urea, they added.

They warned that if gas supply and production were not restored immediately, they would enforce a blockade on the Dhaka–Sylhet Highway.

 Following the rally, workers and employees brought out a protest procession on the factory premises.