A national committee advocating the protection of state-owned sugar mills has announced plans to stage a “Ministry of Industries Siege” on March 31, demanding the immediate reopening of six mills that were shut during the previous Awami League government, The Business Standard reported.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Jatiya Press Club on February 7. The committee also said protest demonstrations will be organised throughout March at both operating and closed mills to build support for the planned action.
Addressing the briefing, Central Convener Kamruzzaman Firoz expressed concern over the lack of progress, noting that a November 2024 meeting between Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and leaders of the National Ganofront and the National Mukti Council had resulted in a decision to modernise and reopen the six mills. Although an ordinance was later issued to support the move, the committee alleged that the Ministry of Finance failed to provide the required funding and instead directed authorities to suspend sugarcane crushing operations.
The committee outlined three key demands to the interim government: the immediate reopening of the six closed mills to protect local economies, stronger measures to address corruption within the sugar sector, and the modernisation of ageing mill infrastructure to ensure long-term operations.
Joint Convener Nur Rahman Polash read out the written statement at the event. Those present included Tipu Biswas, president of the National Krishak Khetmajur Samiti; Faizul Hakim, central coordinator of the National Mukti Council; and several leaders from the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation.
Speakers said the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and workers depend on the mills. They warned that if the government fails to demonstrate clear progress on funding and modernisation before the March 31 deadline, the planned siege of the Ministry of Industries will proceed.
