Charges have been framed against Managing Director Monisha Abraham along with four top officials of British American Tobacco Bangladesh (BATB), a multinational cigarette manufacturer, for alleged violations of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006. The order was passed on Thursday (October 16) by Razia Sultana, Chairperson of the Khulna Divisional Labour Court. The court also fixed November 16, 2025, for the recording of witness statements. During the charge-framing hearing, Monisha Abraham, Managing Director of BAT Bangladesh; George Louis Macedo, Head of Operations; Syed Afzal Hossain, Company Secretary; and Mukit Ahmed Chowdhury, Manager of the Kushtia GLT Plant, were present in court.

Background of the case : On April 30, 2025, Md Farjun Islam, Labour Inspector of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), Kushtia region, filed a criminal case (No. 38/2025) against BAT Bangladesh. According to the complaint, the company has been operating 11 tobacco-processing factories in Kushtia without government approval and depriving workers of fair wages and benefits. The complaint further alleges that BAT Bangladesh violated at least 45 sections and sub-sections of the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.

Case stemmed from investigative reports :  The case originated from a series of investigative reports aired by private television channel Ekattor TV.In November last year, Sushanta Kumar Singha, special correspondent for the channel, exposed BAT Bangladesh’s alleged unlicensed operations in Kushtia and violations of labour rights. Following a government investigation that confirmed the findings, the Kushtia office of the Ministry of Labour and Employment filed the case against the company.

Government’s stance: : Labour Inspector and complainant Md Farjun Islam said: “The government’s position on protecting workers’ rights is very clear. No influence or pressure will prevent legal action against those who break the law.” He added that the government remains committed to ensuring the rule of law and fair treatment for all workers.

A first in BAT’s 115-year history in Bangladesh: This is the first time in British American Tobacco’s 115-year history in Bangladesh that the government has brought charges against the company’s Managing Director and senior executives for labour law violations. The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments described the move as a significant milestone in upholding labour rights and legal accountability in the country.

https://ekattor.tv/country/khulna/82709/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BF%E2%80%99%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C-%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%A0%E0%A6%A8

Charges framed against BATB’s MD & 3 senior officials for violating Labour Act