The once-thriving aluminum utensils industry in Talora, Bogura- which began with the country’s first aluminum factory in 1954- is now on the verge of extinction, with 10 of its 11 factories shut down and over 500 workers rendered jobless due to fuel and raw material shortages, according to local owners and workers.
The sole surviving factory, Saurav Aluminium Works, is also operating at a loss, said industry insiders.
Factory owners said producing one kilogram of aluminum utensils using furnace oil costs Tk16, whereas the same production using gas costs only Tk8 to Tk9. Factories in Bogura town have gas connections, but Talora, just 20 kilometres away, has no gas supply, making it impossible for local entrepreneurs to compete in the same market.
“Furnace oil costs for one month could cover gas bills for six to seven months,” said Subhash Prasad Kanu, owner of Saurav Aluminium Works. “With gas connection, production could double and costs would drop significantly.”
He said a memorandum was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner four years ago seeking gas connections, but no action had been taken.
Salesman Biren Chandra, who has worked at Saurav Aluminium Works for 25 years, said raw material prices had risen several times over. Sulphur per kilogram prices have gone from Tk2,000 to Tk12,000; nitric acid litre from Tk2,500 to Tk5,500; and caustic soda from Tk2,000-2,500 to Tk4,500.
The factory operates on a barter system. Earlier, 100 kg of scrap would yield 62-63 kg of finished products. Now, with higher raw material costs, the same 100 kg of scrap requires giving 68-69 kg of finished products, an additional four to five kilograms, further increasing production costs.
Worker Ratan Mia said the factory now runs irregularly. “I cannot run my family anymore,” he said adding, “If the government provides gas or fuel support, several factories could reopen.”
Biren Chandra said five factories used to operate in Talora; four are now closed. “One day production runs, the next day it doesn’t. There is a raw material shortage. Every month brings losses. The owner cannot close it, nor can he keep it running.”
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation Bogura Deputy General Manager AKM Mahfuzur Rahman said entrepreneurs needed necessary support. “We will discuss with higher authorities how to provide facilities to sustain this industry.”
Bogura Deputy Commissioner Toufiqur Rahman said the administration wanted to strengthen sick industries. “If an industry is on the verge of extinction and has potential, we will try to save it through government support,” he said, adding that loan facilities were available and entrepreneurs could seek assistance.
Talora’s aluminum industry, established in 1954, once supplied utensils across northern Bangladesh. Seventy years later, it now faces an existential crisis. Without urgent fuel support and other necessary assistance, the region’s final industrial lights may soon go out.
