The government is reopening the long-closed mills of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) in phases, a move it expects to create about 50,000 jobs. Of the 17 mills already leased, nine have resumed production, employing about 9,500 people.

Officials of the textiles and jute ministry said lease deals for three state mills were signed recently: PRAN-RFL Group has taken Jatiya Jute Mills in Sirajganj and Star Jute Mills in Khulna, and Hamko Group has taken Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills in Khulna. The three are expected to bring about Tk 619 crore of investment, at least 11,629 jobs and annual revenue of about Tk 1,175 crore.

About Tk 157 crore is planned for Jatiya Jute Mills at Raipur, Sirajganj, and about Tk 250 crore for Star Jute Mills at Dighalia, Khulna, each expected to employ 5,238 people and earn about Tk 500 crore a year. Platinum Jubilee at Khalishpur is to get about Tk 212 crore and employ at least 1,153. Leases are also in process for MM Jute Mill at Sitakunda, KFD at Rangunia and the Cooperative Jute Mill at Palash.

BJMC chief operating officer Md Mamunur Rashid said 20 of the corporation's 25 mills are being leased to the private sector and 17 leases are complete. Karim Jute Mills and Latif Bawany Jute Mills at Demra are being handed to BEZA for economic zones, two others are in litigation, and Amin Jute Mills at Sitakunda, now returned, may resume production by December.

The 25 BJMC mills were closed on 1 July 2020 because of losses, and about 25,000 permanent workers were paid off under a golden handshake. State minister for textiles and jute Md Shariful Alam said the mills are being leased through transparent public-private partnership tenders, and that loans and other support are offered for investment in jute goods to raise jute use and cut polythene and plastic. Reopened mills could also raise demand for growers' jute.

Photo: Mahinur11 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Source: Nagorik TV