Jamuna Oil Labour Union Leader Eyakub Imprisoned

Muhammad Eyakub, the general secretary of the labour union at Jamuna Oil Company, has been sent to prison following his arrest in connection with an attack on students during an anti-discrimination movement. The arrest was carried out by police in the early hours of Sunday, after which he was formally remanded to custody by the court.

Chandgaon police station’s officer-in-charge, Jahedul Kabir, confirmed the arrest. He stated that Eyakub had previously been apprehended in connection with a case related to the July protests back in September, and the court has now ordered him to be held in custody pending further proceedings.

Eyakub, a prominent figure among the employees of the state-run Jamuna Oil Company, began his career there in 1997 as a typist. His father, Md. Abul Kashem, had also served the company as an office assistant. Following his father’s death, Eyakub secured a permanent position at Jamuna Oil. He was appointed joint general secretary of the company’s labour union in 2009 and became the general secretary a year later, a position he has held ever since. For over a decade and a half, the union was affiliated with the Workers’ League; however, following last year’s political shifts, Eyakub transformed it into a Workers’ Party-aligned organisation.

According to company sources, Eyakub’s initial permanent salary in 1997 was BDT 935. His current basic salary is BDT 37,503, with a total remuneration package of BDT 85,100. Eyakub resides in a 4,000-square-foot flat in the upscale Khulshi area of Chittagong and reportedly holds investments in various businesses. He also drives his own microbus.

Property records and anti-corruption sources indicate significant assets in Eyakub’s name. In 2014, he purchased 6% of land in Patenga, Chittagong, for BDT 2.1 million. Additionally, jointly with his wife Mariam Begum, he acquired 4% of land in Agrabad, Double Mooring Thana, for BDT 5 million. Preliminary investigations by the Anti-Corruption Commission have uncovered further land holdings: 14%, 11.5%, and 12% plots in Boalkhali Upazila, as well as other jointly owned properties. Furthermore, Eyakub owns a 4,200-square-foot flat in Khulshi, Chittagong, valued at approximately BDT 17 million.

The unfolding case highlights concerns over wealth accumulation among senior union officials and the potential misuse of authority within state-run enterprises, attracting widespread attention from both workers and the public alike.

Eyakub’s Career and Assets Overview