Abandoned ORS factory in Jhenaidah may finally reopen after 15 years

Hope rises as a forgotten factory—built to combat dehydration—edges closer to revival. Political gridlock once silenced its machines, but change may be near.

, and Administrator

2025 November 24 . 9:25 PM

1 min read

In the center of the image we can see jar, spoon placed on the table.

Abandoned ORS factory in Jhenaidah may finally reopen after 15 years

An abandoned oral rehydration saline (ORS) factory in Jhenaidah could soon restart operations after years of inactivity. Built in 2005, the facility was completed in 2008 but never opened, leaving its machinery unused and decaying. Locals now hope the site can finally serve its intended purpose—producing life-saving rehydration salts for the district and beyond.

The factory’s construction wrapped up just before the Awami League took office in 2008. Residents claim political tensions between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the ruling party led to its shutdown. Without official documentation, the facility has remained idle, despite its infrastructure being fully in place.

The factory’s revival hinges on resolving bureaucratic delays and securing official approvals. If operational, it would cut costs, streamline supply chains, and provide a steady source of rehydration salts for thousands. The health minister overseeing the project’s recapitalisation has not yet been named in public records.