Laid-off Beximco workers demand reopening of factories
The laid-off workers and employees of 16 Beximco textile and garment units today urged the government to reopen the factories and reinstate their jobs.
They made the demand at a press conference at the Capital Market Journalists' Forum (CMJF) office in Dhaka.
The employees demanded that the government facilitate the opening of letters of credit so that the mills can import raw materials, operate the factories, and repay bank loans.
"The owners of the group are eager to resume operations of the 16 textile and garment factories," said Md Abdul Kaium, head of personnel administration at Beximco Garment Division, at the press conference.
Beximco, one of the most talked-about industrial giants in Bangladesh, landed in hot water following the ouster of the Awami League government in early August last year.
Banks curbed finances owing to the default of a huge amount of loans, alleged to have been taken by the group using the influence of its Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman, who was an influential adviser to deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.Salman is now behind bars.
In December last year, Beximco laid off more than 40,000 workers across its 16 textile and garment units, citing a decline in work orders from international clothing retailers and brands.
The government earlier formed a committee of advisers to salvage the beleaguered industrial conglomerate. On Tuesday, workers of Beximco demonstrated in Gazipur, demanding the reopening of mills.
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