Charges have been framed against British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), the multinational cigarette manufacturer, for allegedly violating the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.
On Thursday (October 16), Razia Sultana, Chairperson of the Khulna Divisional Labour Court, issued the order. The court also set November 16 as the date for recording witness testimonies in the case.
During the hearing, BATB Managing Director Monisha Abraham, Head of Operations Jorge Luis Macedo, Company Secretary Syed Afzal Hossain, and GLT Plant Manager (Kushtia) Mukit Ahmed Chowdhury appeared before the court.
According to court records, Md Farjun Islam, Labour Inspector of the Department of Factories and Establishments (Kushtia Region), filed a criminal case (No. 38/2025) against BATB on June 20.
Officials from the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) said the move was a significant step by the government toward protecting workers’ rights and enforcing labour laws in Bangladesh.
The case follows a November 2024 investigative report that revealed BATB was allegedly operating 11 unauthorised factories in Kushtia, violating workers’ rights and breaching at least 45 sections and subsections of the Labour Act. After the allegations were verified through a government inquiry, the Ministry of Labour’s Kushtia office filed the case against BATB.
“The government is determined to uphold labour rights and will not bow to any external pressure,” said complainant Md Farjun Islam.
He noted that this is the first time in BAT’s 115-year history in Bangladesh that a case has been filed against its Managing Director and senior officials for labour law violations.
Following the charge framing, the court fixed November 16 for witness testimony.
ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, welcomed the development, saying, “Our organisation continues to fight against the tobacco epidemic. The law will take its own course.”
AU/BP
