Authorities of Pabna Sugar Mill is facing difficulties to clear the arrear salaries of its employees and workers as sugar worth Tk 40 crore remained unsold. Sugarcane growers owe Tk 25 crore while mill workers and employees Tk 6 crore. During this pandemic period, the sugarcane farmers, workers and employees are living a miserable life with their families without getting their dues. Besides, the sugarcane farmers are also facing extreme humiliation due to their inability to repay the loans borrowed for seeds, fertilizers and irrigation for their sugarcane field during the last sugarcane season. Although the loan was repaid, the farmers in the mill zone cultivated sugarcane and supplied sugarcane together keeping the crushing season alive. However, they have not yet received the price of the sugarcane from the mill authorities. Besides, the workers are also going through difficult times without getting regular salary and bonus. Meanwhile, some sources in the mill said that at present sugar worth Tk 40 crore is lying unsold in the mill’s warehouse. The mill authorities are not able to pay the arrears of sugarcane growers, workers and employees for this reason. But, the sources could not mention any satisfactory reason as why such huge amount of sugar remained unsold. However, another source said the main reason for the unsold sugar was the inability of the authorities concerned to make proper plans and decisions. The sale policy could not be maintained with the privately owned sugar mills, said a section of mill authorities. The victims feel that the reluctance of those involved is largely responsible for this.
