Published : 01 Aug 2026, 07:17 AM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:29 AM
Eleven factories owned by the controversial industrial conglomerate S Alam Group have been closed in Chattogram.
On Thursday, notices were sent to the factories to lay off all remaining staff members and workers, effective from Saturday.
The factories are located in Karnafuli Upazila.
As a result of the closures, some 4,500 workers will lose their jobs.
However, some employees of the safety and electrical departments at these factories will remain on the payroll.
Hasmat Ali, an engineer at S Alam Refined Sugar Industries Limited, told bdnews24.com: “The notices started being sent out on Thursday. They will take effect on Saturday. A total of 11 establishments have been closed.”
The factories that are closing are S Alam Refined Sugar Industries Limited, S Alam Cement, S Alam Oil, S Alam Vegetable Oil, S Alam Bag Factory, Chemon Ispat Limited, S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Limited, S Alam Steel, S Alam Power Plant Limited, S Alam Power Generation Limited and an animal feed factory.
However, the coal-fired power plant – S.S. Power Plant - owned by S Alam in Banshkhali will remain operational.
The factories were given notices of layoffs on Thursday afternoon. The notices cited instructions from the management authority and said, "The listed officers and employees have been relieved of their jobs, which will be considered effective from Aug 1."
Hasmat told bdnews24.com, “Two years ago, these units employed about 8,000 officials and employees. They were laid off in stages. As of yesterday, there were about 4,500 employees. Everyone’s salaries and other benefits have been paid.”
Although the factories have not been fully operational for the past two years, the employees have still been paid their salaries, he said.
As the bank accounts of the factories have been frozen and new lines of credit have not been opened, it has not been possible to bring raw materials to these factories, said Hasmat.
He said the owner had told them that all the employees will be brought back if the factories can reopen.
