Govt appoints administrator at Nassa Group to clear workers' dues

The government has appointed Arif Ahmed Khan, Additional Inspector-General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), as the administrator of Nassa Group to oversee the payment of dues to its workers.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment issued on Wednesday a circular announcing the appointment.

Wage payments to Nassa Group's employees have reportedly remained pending for several months, as the group's chairman, Nazrul Islam Mazumder, is currently in jail.

Nassa Group, one of the country's largest industrial conglomerates, employs over 30,000 workers across its textile and garment units, with additional investments in banking and real estate.

Workers from several of its apparel factories have been staging demonstrations in recent weeks, demanding payment of outstanding wages.

According to media reports, the group's operations have been severely disrupted since the regime change in August last year, with most factories remaining closed and bank loans amounting to thousands of crores of taka unpaid.

After borrowing from 22 banks and one financial institution, Nassa Group has reportedly defaulted on loans worth Tk 86.76 billion (8,676 crore).

newsmanjasi@gmail.com