The aggrieved workers of Jamuna Fertilizer Factory (JFCL), the country's largest and only granular urea producer located at Tarakandi in Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur, staged a blockade. 486 workers protested against the layoff and demanded re-employment. After the protest march from Saturday morning, they blocked the main gate of the factory for about two hours in the afternoon and held a protest rally. At this time, the blocked officers and employees of the factory were half an hour late to leave for the midday break. Angry workers have warned of wider action if they do not get their jobs back. Additional police were deployed in the factory area to avoid any untoward incident.
Pogaldigha Union Parishad Chairman Ashraful Alam Manik, Upazila Awami League Organizing Secretary Rafiqul Islam, Union Awami League President Sams Uddin, Mahadan Union Awami League President Abdullah Al Mamun, Transport Samiti President Abul Hossain Sarkar, Transport Workers Union convener Akkas Uddin spoke on behalf of the workers. etc.
According to JFCL sources, since its establishment in 1991, the KPI-1 standard Jamuna refinery under the control of Bangladesh Chemical Industry Corporation (BCIC) has employed workers on a daily attendance basis. These workers are appointed for two years through the contractor selected by inviting tenders. The last local member of parliament Dr. 486 workers were working through M/s Jannat Enterprise owned by Murad Hasan MP representative Sakhawat Alam Mukul. The authorities banned all workers from entering the factory from September 1, when their tenure expired. Meanwhile, the contracting company filed a case in court to stop the recruitment of new workers.
Upazila Awami League organizing secretary Rafiqul Islam said that the factory authorities are illegally hiring people of their choice without inviting tenders. But the unemployed workers have lost their jobs and have to live an inhumane life.
UP Chairman Ashraful Alam Manik said that the workers' anger is increasing due to the non-fulfillment of their demands. Law and order situation in the area may deteriorate if not resolved soon.
In this regard, the manager (administration) of the factory, Delwar Hossain, said on the phone that the employment of 193 out of 486 contract workers has already been canceled according to the rules. The term of the remaining 293 persons ended on August 31. Tenders were invited to appoint new contractors, but the recruitment of new workers is on hold due to the contractor's lawsuit.
Muhammad Mohabbat Kabir, officer-in-charge of Sarishabari police station, said that the police were on alert for the sit-in program of Jamuna Sarkarkhana workers. The workers carried out the work in a peaceful manner. Additional police were also deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.