Dhaka: Shipping and Labour and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain announced today that the government will implement stringent actions against industry owners who have failed to repay interest-free loans provided for settling wage arrears of workers.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government extended these loans through the Finance Division and the Central Fund, Ministry of Labour and Employment, to mitigate labour dissatisfaction caused by the non-payment of wages by various industrial units. However, these industries have yet to return the borrowed funds.
Dr M Sakhawat Hussain made these remarks while chairing a meeting at the secretariat, as stated in a press release. The industries involved include Birds Group, TNZ Group, Beximco Group, Dard Group, Niagara Textiles Limited, Rower Fashion Limited, Mahmud Jeans Limited, Stylecraft Limited, and Goldstar Garments Limited.
He further announced that steps have been initiated to issue Interpol red notices against some of the non-compliant owners who have absconded. "This loan money is the workers' money and the people's tax money. This money must be repaid by next December," stated Hussain emphatically.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Finance Division, Financial Institutions Division, and representatives from the Bangladesh Bank and BGMEA, underscoring the seriousness of the government's intent to recover the funds.