Bengal Shoe Industries, a footwear factory that employed around 2,000 people in Lakshmipur’s Raipur upazila, has permanently shut down, leaving workers jobless and without five months of unpaid wages.

The factory, which had operated for nearly two decades in Rakhaliya area of Sonapur Union, stopped production after its owners cited banking complications and financial difficulties.

The closure has hit female workers particularly hard, especially widows, separated women and those who were the sole earners in their families.

Fahima Begum (pseudonym), who worked at the factory for around eight years, is struggling to support her two children and elderly mother after losing her only source of income.

Her husband died around eight years ago, leaving her responsible for the family. She took the factory job with a monthly wage of Tk6,000 and had depended on it to run her household.

“I have not received five months’ wages. I do not know how I will support my children and elderly mother now,” she said.

At least 15 workers interviewed outside the factory on Friday described similar hardships. Some had lost their husbands or fathers, while others were the sole earners of their families. Many said their savings were nearly exhausted.

While some male workers have found jobs elsewhere, female workers have struggled to find alternative employment.

“Many male workers have found jobs elsewhere, but young and middle-aged women like us are not getting work,” said Zarina Begum, another worker from Sonapur.

“We contacted the BSCIC Industrial Estate, but no arrangement was made. The situation is especially difficult for widows and women who depend entirely on their own income.”

Workers Zahir Miji said job opportunities in the area were limited and wages were low.

The owners put up a notice at the factory gate on 15 May announcing its permanent closure. Workers had earlier staged protests demanding that the factory reopen and their outstanding wages be paid.

Tipu Sultan, owner of Bengal Shoe Industries, said the factory had operated for 20 years despite fluctuations in its financial performance.

“We have been left with no option after the back-to-back LC facility was discontinued and we faced banking complications,” he said.

He urged the government and relevant authorities to restore banking facilities, withdraw the lay-off and allow the factory to reopen.

Raipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mehedi Hasan Kawsar said the authorities had learned that the factory closed because of problems with banking facilities.

“Several meetings were held to resolve the workers’ unpaid wage issue, but the owners eventually announced the permanent closure,” he said.