Dhaka-Sylhet Highway blocked over reopening, renaming of Ashuganj fertiliser factory
Workers and local political leaders staged a protest demonstration and human chain in Brahmanbaria today (August 31) demanding the restoration of the gas supply and the modernization of Ashuganj Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, which has been closed for sixteen months.
The protesters also demanded that the restoration of its former name, Zia Fertilizer Company.
The event was held on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway close to Ashuganj Roundabout at around 9:30 a.m.
Residents of four villages ( Durgapur, Bahadurpur, Sohagpur and Tajpur) in Ashuganj upazila of Brahmanbaria blocked the Dhaka-Sylhet highway for an hour from 11am to noon on Saturday In protest against the illicit sand extraction from the Meghna River and its danger to neighboring farmland and settlements.
It caused significant suffering for commuters and long-distance passengers.
Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) Ashuganj upazila units, Jamaat-e-Islami, and BNP joined the program in support of the demands.
The human chain was led by Bazlur Rashid, head of the factory’s Workers-Employees Union.
Speakers at the event included Tajul Islam Bhuiyan, the factory’s deputy general manager (administration); Nawab Ali Munshi, the joint general secretary of the Ashuganj upazila BNP; Amir Shahjahan Bhuiyan, the upazila Jamaat-e-Islami; Joyonti Biswas, the leader of the NCP; Md. Abu Kawsar, the general secretary of the Workers-Employees Union; and Tanvir Rahman, the organizational secretary.
Speakers said that since 2010, a vested interest group interested in fertilizer imports has been trying to keep native fertilizer plants shut down.
They claimed that fertilizer facilities had suffered significant financial and mechanical harm as a result of protracted shutdowns.
According to the speakers, the factory’s production has been halted since March 1st of last year, which has had a detrimental impact on jobs and the local economy.
They demanded that the government modernize the factory so that manufacturing could begin and immediately restore the gas supply. Additionally, they insisted on the restoration of the factory’s previous name, Zia Fertilizer Company.
