Sunday, 5th July 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 2nd May 2026, 5:08 PM
Mazen (BD) Limited, a prominent eyewear and optical frame manufacturing facility located within the Uttara Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Nilphamari, has officially declared an indefinite suspension of its operations. The Chinese-owned enterprise communicated this decision via a formal written notice issued on the afternoon of Wednesday, 29 April, citing a convergence of global economic pressures.
The management attributed the closure to a severe global shortage of essential utilities—specifically electricity and gas—alongside a critical scarcity of raw materials. These logistical hurdles have been exacerbated by a significant decline in international purchase orders, as consumer demand in global markets fluctuates amidst broader economic instability.
The notice, signed by the company’s Director of Operations, Eren Li, detailed that the current international climate has severely disrupted the supply chain for raw materials. Consequently, the factory has been unable to sustain its regular production cycles, leading to the decision to declare a “lay-off.”
Under the provisions of Section 15 of the Bangladesh EPZ Act 2019, the suspension of work became effective on Thursday, 30 April, and is slated to continue until further notice. This legal framework governs the suspension of industrial activities within specialised economic zones, ensuring that the process remains within the boundaries of national labour and investment regulations.
The suspension directly impacts a significant workforce. Mazen (BD) Limited currently employs a total of 4,361 labourers and officers. This figure includes a specialised contingent of 96 Chinese nationals who are engaged in essential technical and administrative roles within the facility.
The management has explicitly instructed all labourers and staff members that their physical presence at the factory is not required during this period of inactivity. Regarding financial remunerations, the company has provided the following assurances:
Wages and Allowances: Workers will receive their salaries and statutory allowances in accordance with Section 15 of the 2019 Act, which protects employee earnings during a sanctioned lay-off.
Festive Bonuses: In anticipation of the upcoming Holy Eid-ul-Adha, the company has committed to disbursing festive bonuses to all employees. These payments are scheduled to be processed via bank transfers to individual accounts between 7 May and 14 May.
The Executive Director of the Uttara EPZ, Mohammad Abdul Jabbar, confirmed the suspension on Thursday afternoon. He clarified that the decision by the Mazen (BD) authorities was a direct response to the depletion of raw materials and the reduction in international demand.
However, the Executive Director emphasised that this measure is not a permanent dissolution of the business. “The authorities took this decision due to the lack of raw materials and a decrease in orders,” he stated, adding that the factory is expected to resume full production once the supply chain stabilises and new purchase orders are secured from international buyers.
The suspension of Mazen (BD) Limited is a notable development for the Uttara EPZ, which serves as a critical industrial hub in the northern region of Bangladesh. As a major exporter of optical products, the factory’s inactivity highlights the vulnerability of export-oriented units to global market shifts and energy crises.
The situation is being closely monitored by the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) to ensure that the rights of the thousands of affected workers are upheld and that the transition back to operational status occurs as smoothly as possible once global conditions permit. Mazen (BD) Limited remains one of the largest employers in the zone, making its eventual reopening vital for the local economy in Nilphamari.
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