Pabna Sugar Mill shut for 6 months due to production lost

The Pabna Sugar Mill, country’s major heavy industrial establishments has remained shut for nearly six years as it losing economic growth.

However, the Ministry of Industries shut down its sugarcane crushing operations in 2020 along with several other state-owned mills. Since then, sugarcane cultivation in the region has nearly ceased.
Farmer Shahjahan Ali Badsha said that the production capacity and sugar quality of Pabna Sugar Mill were superior compared to many other mills in the country.

Local resident Russell Talukdar stated that valuable machinery is deteriorating due to the prolonged closure and emphasized the urgency of reopening the mill.

Managing Director Akhtaruzzaman said the mill could be made profitable again by resuming operations and producing not only sugar but also various by-products.

He added that 30 security personnel are currently working in three shifts to safeguard the facility, and there is no risk of theft or misuse. Some machine parts have also been transferred to operational mills.
Despite the halt in production, around Tk 1.2 million is being spent every month on salaries and allowances for employees.

According to mill sources, the factory currently has 27 permanent and 30 temporary off (officials and staff). Their salaries and benefits amount to approximately Tk 1.2 million per month. In addition, about Tk 563,000 is spent monthly on the wages of 30 security guards responsible for maintaining and protecting the mill’s machinery. Since the mill’s closure in 2020, the government has spent over Tk 80 million solely on salaries and allowances over the past six years.

Once employing around 1,200 workers, the mill now operates with only a handful of personnel across administration, factory, and security departments. Due to prolonged inactivity, machinery worth nearly Tk 800 million is at risk of deterioration because of neglect and lack of maintenance.
Local sugarcane farmers have been the worst affected by the shutdown. Established on approximately 60 acres of land in Dashuria under Ishwardi district, the mill was once bustling with workers, employees, and farmers. It now stands silent, with an almost deserted atmosphere.
Sources say the mill, with a daily crushing capacity of about 1,600 metric tons, began trial production in the 1996-97 season and started commercial operations in 1997-98.
Top officials of the mill have expressed optimism about reopening the closed facilities. Labor leaders and local sugarcane farmers have demanded that the mill be restarted as soon as possible.