Rock production of Madhyapara Granite Mining Company Ltd (MGMCL) in Parbatipur upazila under the district got suspended for an indefinite period yesterday as the minable rocks of existing five stoves (pockets of rocks) are exhausted.  

No new stove could be developed due to the shortage of equipment.

Belarus-based company Germania Trest Consortium (GTC) took over the charge for maintenance and production of the mine early January last year.

They continued producing nearly 4500 tonnes of rock daily, operating three shifts.

But on August 1 this year, GTC suspended operation of two shifts and subsequently informed the MGMCL authorities about their unwillingness to continue rock production from the underground as the rocks of five stoves, developed by North Korea-based company Namnam around 10 years ago, have already been extracted, said the GTC officials. 

"We finally suspended total rock production today [Wednesday] and it cannot be restarted until the required machinery and equipment is imported," said Zabed Siddiqui, general manager of Germania Trest Consortium.

The suspension left jobless at least 560 Bangladeshi workers, who were appointed under 'no work no pay' condition.

Meanwhile, foreign workers have been sent back to the respective countries.

Despite repeated request from GTC, MGMCL authorities could not import the required machinery and equipment due to shortage of capital.

After energy and power ministry agreed to pay Tk 100crore as loan last month, MGMCL opened letter of credit to import the required machinery and equipment early this month.    

Around 150 items under 36 categories will be required for restarting the production and it will take five to seven months to import and set up them underground, sources said.

Md Aminuzzaman, managing director of MGMCL, said the production will start as early as possible after the ordered machinery and equipment arrive.

Now there is reserve of six lakh tonnes of rocks at the mine yard.