Agreements have been signed to lease three closed jute mills in Khulna and Sirajganj, controlled by the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, to private companies. Two have gone to Pran-RFL Group, one of the country's leading industrial groups, and the third to Abdullah Battery Company (Private) Limited of Hamko Group.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam said about Tk 1,000 crore of investment is planned in the three mills, and that more than 11,000 people will find work once they reopen.

The formal lease agreements were signed on Tuesday, 11 August, in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The state minister briefed reporters afterwards, and said some other closed mills would reopen within the next six months.

According to the ministry, Platinum Jubilee Jute Mill at Khalishpur, Khulna, has been leased for 30 years to Hamko Group's Abdullah Battery Company (Private) Limited. Pran-RFL Group has leased Star Jute Mills at Dighalia, Khulna, and Jatiya Jute Mills at Raipur, Sirajganj.

Under the agreements, fresh investment will be made to restart production, bringing long-closed industrial units back into operation and creating new local jobs. More than Tk 1,000 crore is planned for the three mills, which is expected to employ more than 11,000 people, put the assets of closed factories to use and give new momentum to industry and the economy.

Pran-RFL Group earlier reopened the long-closed state-owned Rajshahi Textile Mill and Rajshahi Jute Mill under a public-private partnership (PPP). Those two factories employ 3,500 people.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.