More than 3,000 contract workers laid off by British American Tobacco Bangladesh are demanding compensation after the company’s abrupt closure of its Mohakhali factory.
The protest began Wednesday afternoon outside the now-shuttered facility, where workers formed a human chain. Many say they were let go without proper health support or severance, despite long-term exposure to tobacco-related work environments.
Contract workers speak out
“We gave 37 years of our lives here,” said one former worker at the scene. “Now it’s shut down overnight, and I’ve been left with nothing but the payment from the contractor. The company gave me nothing. I have a family, and now I’m out on the street.”
Several others shared similar concerns, stating that they had only received their final wages, but no formal benefits from BAT Bangladesh itself.
“We worked with tobacco,” another protester said. “That work affected our health. Now they’re gone, leaving us behind. We’re just asking the company to look at us with some humanity.”
Shift to Savar leaves thousands behind
BAT Bangladesh officially moved all operations to a new factory in Savar earlier this month. The Mohakhali facility was closed on June 7.
While permanent employees were reportedly reassigned or compensated through existing benefits structures, thousands of contractual laborers say they were excluded.
The company has not issued a formal response to the protest or the compensation demands.
Calls for humane treatment and accountability
Protesters said they will continue demonstrating until the company acknowledges the health damage caused by years of handling tobacco and agrees to fair compensation.
“This is not about just money,” a worker added. “We’re talking about families, health, and survival. We want a humane solution.”
While the demonstration at BAT Bangladesh remained calm through Thursday morning, the workers’ message is clear: they want more than just their paychecks.
The workers are insistent on two fronts: they want a direct dialogue with the company and the means to build a case for the long-term health consequences they’ve endured, which includes both legal and medical backing.
All the while, their demonstration has remained entirely peaceful, with police maintaining a wide berth and no conflicts arising.
