By Md. Kamal Uddin
Chattogram is more than just a name; it is the heartbeat of Bangladesh’s economy. It is not merely a port city—it is the nation’s industrial, commercial, import-export, manufacturing, and employment hub. Every morning in this city begins with the footsteps of workers, and every evening ends with the calculations of production. Chattogram understands that industry means life, and industrial stagnation means economic decline.
Against this backdrop, the recent situation surrounding S. Alam Group has become a matter of deep concern. This industrial conglomerate is not just a business enterprise; it is a source of livelihood for hundreds of thousands of people, a beacon of hope for countless families, and a significant pillar of the national economy.
Over the years, S. Alam Group has expanded its operations across a wide range of sectors, including food products, power generation, steel, textiles, shipping, banking, and real estate. Its investments have gone far beyond industry, contributing significantly to infrastructure development, market stability, and employment generation. Nearly half a million people are directly or indirectly employed through the Group’s activities—a contribution that cannot be overlooked.
Despite this, the crisis surrounding this well-established industrial group appears unusual to many observers. An increasingly important question is being raised: Is this truly the result of economic weakness, or has it been a crisis created through policy decisions and administrative actions?
Many members of Chattogram’s civil society believe that S. Alam Group was never genuinely bankrupt. Instead, they argue that administrative decisions, policy complications, and the stance of certain influential quarters have contributed to an artificially created crisis.
In particular, questions have been raised regarding the role of former Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur. If any policy decision or administrative action has unfairly harmed a major industrial group, then it is important that responsibility for those decisions be properly examined. The rule of law is best upheld when justice is based on truth and fairness rather than on individuals or institutions.
We wish to make one point absolutely clear:
If any industrial group has committed irregularities or engaged in corruption, it must be held accountable. However, that accountability should be based on credible evidence, carried out through a transparent process, and in full accordance with the rule of law.
The question, however, is this:
Can shutting down the operations of a functioning industrial enterprise and pushing hundreds of thousands of workers into uncertainty truly solve any problem?
The answer is clear: No.
Because the closure of an industry does not merely harm a single company; it brings darkness to workers’ homes, creates stagnation in the marketplace, and deepens the country’s economic challenges.
The people of Chattogram understand this reality all too well. Those who work in factories every day, support their families with monthly wages, and dream of building a better future for their children know that their lives are closely connected to the continued operation of these industries.
Today, they ask:
Where does their future lie?
Will their jobs return?
Will stability return to their lives?
It is in search of answers to these questions that Chattogram’s civil society has become increasingly vocal.
Their demands are straightforward:
Protect industry.
Safeguard employment.
Maintain economic continuity.
In this context, the initiative for S. Alam Group to return and resume its operations in Bangladesh has been welcomed by many. It is viewed not merely as the return of a company, but as a potential catalyst for economic revival and the beginning of renewed confidence.
However, such a return should be founded on a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.
There are also expectations from the government.
It should adopt a balanced approach—ensuring the rule of law while also protecting industrial productivity and employment.
Today, what Bangladesh needs is not retaliation but solutions; not conflict but dialogue; not destruction but reconstruction.
Chattogram no longer wishes to remain silent.
The people of this city want to speak in the national interest—for industry, for workers, and for the economy.
We believe that Bangladesh’s economy should not become an arena for rivalry among individuals or groups.
It is the foundation of the future of 180 million people.
Let us therefore embrace a new perspective—one that focuses on preserving rather than destroying industry; one where policy decisions are guided by the public interest; and one where economic stability remains the foremost priority.
May the return of S. Alam mark the beginning of that new chapter—one in which lessons are learned from the past, the present is stabilized, and the future is built on a stronger foundation.
The people of Chattogram remain hopeful.
May the wheels of industry turn once again.
May factory chimneys rise with smoke once more.
May smiles return to the homes of workers.
Now is the time for all of us to stand together—for the country, for its people, and for its industries.