Saifullah Md. Khalid Russell, Narayanganj:

Iqbal Group of Industries in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj was once known as an employer of hundreds of workers. Hundreds of men and women used to work in the garments of Iqbal Group of Industries to earn a living. Iqbal Group had a wide reputation. In the morning, afternoon and night, hundreds of workers from Iqbal Group used to line up on foot to finish their work and return home. Now, that Iqbal Group is no more.

Despite paying millions of taka in VAT tax to the Narayanganj City Corporation, they did not receive any benefits. Due to the lack of drainage system at the Iqbal Group of Industries, this industrial establishment used to be submerged in waist-deep water during the monsoon season with even a small amount of rain.

Although the news about the waterlogging of the company was published in newspapers several times to attract the attention of former mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation Selina Hayat Ivy, the former mayor Ivy did not take action. As a result of not taking action, the rolling mill in the factory was damaged by water. In addition, various garment owners were forced to move their garment companies from Iqbal Group of Industries.

Due to waterlogging, Iqbal Group of Industries has faced losses of crores of taka. Currently, the factories are empty and there is no employment. Such a big institution has disappeared today because the Narayanganj City Corporation did not make arrangements for water drainage. The owner claims that this has caused a loss of hundreds of crores of taka. Even after paying VAT tax to the government, they are not getting relief from waterlogging.

It is known that Iqbal Group of Industries is located in Ward No. 5, Siddhirganj Pool of Narayanganj City Corporation. Hundreds of male and female workers used to work in this factory. Due to the lack of water drainage system, various important machinery worth crores of taka of the factory was destroyed due to waterlogging during the monsoon season every year. In addition, due to waterlogging, various garment traders in Iqbal Group left the floors. Although the then Mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation was informed, he did not take any action.

Sunday (July 13, 2025) morning
On the ground, it was seen that the Iqbal Group of Industries in Siddhirganj is waist-deep in water due to the continuous rains over the past few days. The waterlogging has been caused by the lack of a drain to drain rainwater from the factory.

The owners of Iqbal Group of Industries said that every year we have been paying a large amount of VAT tax to the government regularly. But the government has failed to provide us with benefits accordingly. Our goods worth crores of taka have been destroyed due to the failure to make arrangements for the drainage of the factory water. We have to install pumps on our own initiative and dump the stagnant water on the main road.

Who will give us this compensation??. The abandoned factory is still submerged under water due to lack of drainage arrangements. We are drawing the attention of the concerned authorities to take measures to drain the water.

When asked about the issue, Narayanganj City Corporation CEO Md. Zakir Hossain said, "I was not aware of the waterlogging at Iqbal Group in Siddhirganj, but now that I know, I will talk to the engineers and take action."