18 NASA Group Factories Including 2 in Chattogram Permanently Shutdown , Thousands of Workers Unemployed

The sky fell on thousands of workers and millions of people dependent on them. Violent movement demanding unpaid wages

Staff Correspondent

A day after two factories in the EPZ in Chittagong were closed, authorities have announced the permanent closure of 16 more factories under the NASA Group in Ashulia. The decision to close them, effective from Thursday, has thrown the lives of thousands of workers in 18 factories and millions of their dependent families into complete uncertainty. The country’s economic situation is in such a crisis that there is no guarantee that these unemployed workers will find work in any other factory.

After being temporarily closed at various times, this time a permanent closure has been announced.

Angry workers have been protesting on the road since yesterday demanding their arrears of wages and allowances after the factory was suddenly shut down. Hundreds of workers blocked the Bypail-Abdullahpur road since morning, causing long traffic jams on both sides.

The workers complained that the authorities have not yet paid all their dues, including August salaries. They are in an inhumane situation as the factory was suddenly closed without any prior notice. The workers demanded immediate payment of outstanding salaries and allowances and reopening of the factory.

During the protest, when workers threw bricks and stones, police used tear gas, water cannons, and batons to bring the situation under control. At least 15 people, including four policemen, were injured.

Superintendent of Police of Industrial Police-1, Mominul Islam Bhuiyan, said that the blockade by the workers caused traffic congestion on the road and public suffering. Although attempts were made to handle the situation peacefully at first, strict action had to be taken when the workers did not move.

Sources said that in a tripartite meeting held at the Department of Factories and Institutions last Tuesday, NASA authorities said that all activities will be closed from September 25 due to power and gas shortages and lack of sufficient purchase orders. There, the deadline for paying the workers’ arrears was set – August salary will be paid by October 15, September salary by October 30, and other dues by November 30.

However, the workers complain that despite assurances of payment of their dues, the factory has been permanently closed, leaving them disoriented about their future.

Nearly 27,000 workers have lost their jobs in just three factories, NASA Basic, NASA Global, and NASA Hi-Tech. This has spread tension throughout the industrial sector.

It is worth noting that since NASA Group Chairman Nazrul Islam Majumder was arrested from Gulshan in the capital on October 2 last year, the factories’ salaries and allowances have become irregular. After giving notices to close them repeatedly, the authorities finally decided to permanently stop production. Although efforts were made to sell the property to pay the workers’ dues, the workers were furious when the announcement of the permanent shutdown came at this time.

Currently, additional police have been deployed in industrial areas to prevent worker protests and maintain law and order.

Earlier, on Wednesday, September 24, thousands of workers from two closed NASA Group factories protested. They blocked the Airport Road in the Freeport area of ​​Chittagong from 9 am. This caused long traffic jams. Ordinary people using this road suffered greatly.

It is learned that about 3,000 workers work in two factories of NASA Group in CEPZ. The owners have announced the closure of the two factories from October. As a result, the workers have gone on a protest demanding unpaid wages.

The workers said, “Our two factories are owed several months’ salary. Instead of taking that salary, they announced the closure of the factories. Where will we go with all these workers? It would have been a relief if we had received the outstanding salary. But they are not giving that either.”

Angry workers gathered in front of the factory and chanted slogans like ‘We will not accept the black contract that cheats workers, we will not accept it’, ‘We will not let them suck the blood of workers’…etc.