Sheikh Bashiruddin, Advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and Textiles and Jute. Photo: Collected
The government is working to resolve the volatility of edible oil. Starting from the port to Khatunganj, oil stock verification and monitoring are underway everywhere. Sheikh Bashiruddin, Advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and Textiles and Jute, has expressed hope that the volatility of edible oil will end within a week.
The advisor said this after visiting the Daulatpur Jute Mill in Khulna on Monday (February 10, 2025).
The advisor also said, "There is no opportunity to reopen the closed jute mills through the government. The jute mill lease policy made by the previous government is being changed to attract private investment. Where investors will get the opportunity to produce other products along with jute in the BGMC mills. As a result, the stagnant jute mill lease process will speed up, and employment will be created."
Advisor Sheikh Bashiruddin said, "Last week, the closed government textile mill in Kurigram was leased to the private sector through lease. Businessmen are getting the opportunity to invest there as lessees. It is expected that the process of granting leases for three more mills will be completed this week.’
He said, ‘In the case of running jute mills under government management, nothing has been fruitful in the long term except losses of thousands of crores of taka. Therefore, there are plans to release the jute and textile mills owned by the government to the private sector.’
The advisor said, ‘To keep all the existing jute mills in the country running, about 4 million metric tons of jute is required annually. But the country’s jute production is only 1.2 million metric tons. Moreover, the annual jute production in the world is only 2.5 million metric tons. In that case, it is not realistic to keep so many institutions running with jute alone. Therefore, the conditions for leasing jute mills to the private sector are being relaxed and opportunities are being provided for setting up other industries along with the jute industry.
The advisor to the Ministry of Commerce and Textiles and Jute further said that the Daulatpur Jute Mill in Khulna has created employment for about 700 people as a private initiative and gradually three thousand more employment opportunities will be created here.
He further said, "Such successful initiatives and investments will open the way for employment. Efforts are ongoing to move forward in a positive and profitable process by continuing the production of jute products and shoes at the mill under private initiative. The implementation of such innovative initiatives by the government is not as fruitful."
During the inspection, Khulna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam and officials of Daulatpur Jute Mill were present.
Source: Online/OFA
Comment Now