Jamuna urea factory shut for 3 months

Jamuna Fertiliser Company Limited (JFCL), country's largest urea producing company, remains shut for nearly three months due to gas crisis.
The state-owned company with a daily production capacity of 1,700 tonnes was shut on March 26 following a government order.
Authorities yesterday said they are unsure as to when they can resume operation.
Sources said production at the fertiliser unit remained suspended for around 240 days on 13 occasions since January last year thanks to gas shortages and technical glitches.
On April 2 last year, the government shut it for an indefinite period.
Following the shutdown, an overhauling of the unit took place at a cost of Tk 16 crore. The repair ended on May 31, but the company could not go on production for gas shortages.
It finally resumed production in mid-July.
Set up in 1991 at Tarakandi in Jamalpur, the JFCL supplies urea to 20 districts, including 16 northern ones.
Regular fluctuation of gas pressure had been causing technical glitches damaging its costly equipment, company sources said.
Meanwhile, 12 skilled master operators left the company in the last one month, as they were getting a low pay. They later flew abroad with high-salary jobs. In addition, the authorities temporarily suspended 14 staff two months ago as they were trying to find jobs in foreign countries.
Also, corruption by a section of officials and collective bargaining agent (CBA) leaders put the company into a deep crisis, they claimed.
Contacted, JFCL Managing Director Achinta Kumar Dev could not tell when they can resume production. He refused to talk about the suspension of some staff and alleged corruption.
On Thursday, the Nagorik Committee in Sarishabari brought out a procession and demonstrated before JFCL demanding smooth gas supply for the company and immediate resumption of urea production.
Speakers at the demonstration threatened of tougher movement if production does not resume by Sunday.
Leaders of JFCL Workers and Employees Union and local Truck and Tank Lorry Owners and Workers' associations joined the agitation.