Protest against govt decision to hand over 44 state-owned factories to private sector

The Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist) has held a protest rally in the capital demanding the cancellation of the government's decision to hand over 44 state-owned factories to the private sector and the withdrawal of the decision to scrap the 'Essential Drugs List and Pricing Method-2026'.

The rally was held in front of the National Press Club on Monday, August 10. The rally was chaired by party coordinator Masud Rana and conducted by executive forum member Rashed Shahriar. Executive forum members Seema Dutta and Raju Ahmed spoke at the event.

Speakers at the rally said the initiative to hand over various state-owned enterprises, including fuel oil import, power distribution, railways, tourism hotels and 44 factories, to the private sector amounts to transferring public assets to private ownership. This decision must be cancelled immediately.

They alleged that if state assets and public service institutions are transferred to private ownership, they will gradually become profit-driven entities. As a result, costs in essential sectors such as fuel, electricity, railways and medicines would increase, and employment could also be at risk.

The speakers further said the decision to scrap the 'Essential Drugs List and Pricing Method-2026' is also a cause for concern for the general public. They demanded the withdrawal of this decision to ensure that essential medicines remain accessible and affordable.

Referring to past privatisation examples, the leaders said that transferring state assets to private ownership has benefited large capitalist groups rather than the public interest. They called for building a broader movement against the privatisation of state-owned enterprises.