Around 25,000 workers from 16 closed factories of the Beximco Group formed a human chain on the Nabinagar-Chandra highway on Tuesday, demanding the resumption of letter of credit (LC) facilities and the reopening of factories.
They lined up on the Dhaka-bound lane, holding banners as part of their demonstrations. Despite the protest, traffic on the highway remained unaffected.
Earlier, workers began gathering in front of the Beximco Industrial Park at Chakrobarti in Gazipur, before taking their positions in orderly lines along the highway for the event.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment decided to close the 16 factories of the Beximco Industrial Park on 15 December last year, putting the employment of around 40,000 workers at risk.
Salman Fazlur Rahman, who was an adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, heads the organisation. Accused in multiple cases, he is currently in jail.
The government said the factories faced closure due to a lack of orders and the company’s inability to operate because of defaulted bank loans.
The aggrieved workers said they previously staged demonstrations, blocking the Chandra-Nabinagar highway to press home their demand for reopening the factories.
On 21 December, law enforcers dispersed the workers by firing tear gas shells and rubber bullets. Since then, the workers have refrained from staging protests and have instead been holding peaceful human chain programmes.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
