Photo: Collected
The interim government has decided to sell the pledged shares of two Beximco Ltd entities to clear the unpaid wages of workers in 16 factories of the conglomerate. The Bangladesh Security Exchange Commission (BSEC) and the Financial Institutions Division (FID) will take the initiative to sell off the pledged shares of Beximco Pharmaceuticals and Shinepukur Ceramics within the next month.
Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain disclosed the information at a press briefing today (28 February) after a meeting of the advisory council committee on Beximco Industrial Park at the conference room of the shipping ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The adviser said, "Some Tk500-600 crore will be needed to clear the salaries and other dues of the employees. That money will be arranged by selling these shares."
"An investigation will be conducted into how 16 factories in Beximco's textile and apparel sector took loans of Tk28,544 crore from different banks," he added.
Sakhawat said this investigation will also be completed by February.
"Beximco Limited's loan scandal has surpassed the scandal of the Bangladesh Bank reserves heist," he remarked.
Detailing Beximco's unpaid loans, M Sakhawat said Beximco Limited has unpaid loans of Tk1,424 crore taken from Sonali Bank, Tk420 crore from Agrani Bank, Tk987 crore from Rupali Bank, Tk23,285 crore from Janata Bank, Tk315 crore from National Bank, Tk333 crore from UCB, Tk938 crore from AB Bank, Tk497 crore from Exim Bank, Tk61 crore from Global Islami Bank, Tk94 crore from Dutch Bangla Bank, and Tk78 crore from IFIC Bank.
In addition, the conglomerate has unpaid loans of Tk87 crore taken from BIFFL, a financial institution.
"If there are irregularities in these loans, those involved will be brought under the book. No one involved will be spared," said the adviser.
He also warned that action will also be taken against the "receiver appointed in Beximco Limited as the official did not implement the decisions taken by this Advisory Council" or did not treat them with importance.
Sakhawat also announced that the advisory council committee on the Beximco Industrial Park will not hold any more meetings on this matter.
Messenger/JRTarek
