Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun on Friday said that none of the country’s sugar mills have been permanently shuttered, and all factories will be reopened soon.
The minister said this at an inauguration program of sugarcane threshing season at Darshana Keru & Company Sugar Mill in Damurhuda Upazila of Chuadanga.
“No sugar mill has been closed down permanently. The factory has been temporarily shut down for modernisation of the sugar mill,” the minister said.
He also said that the government gives maximum amenities in the production of agricultural products. “The demands of the farmers will be met.”
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi, State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, Industries Secretary Zakia Sultana, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation Chairman Arifur Rahman Apu, Chuadanga-2 MP Haji Md Ali Azgar Togor, were all present on the occasion.
Regarding the rising prices of commodities, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that if the prices of essential commodities go up in the international market, the domestic market tends to follow suit. However, TCB activities will be commenced at the upazila level to keep the prices tolerable, he added. Hopefully, 400-500 TCB trucks will be added in the next 3 months.
Managing Director of Sugar Mill Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain presided over the function.
He said all preparations of the sugar mill have been completed to start the threshing for this season. However, sugarcane cultivation has decreased, leading the production target down to half this year, he said.
Meanwhile, the government shut down six sugar mills last year due to continued losses among 15 state-owned sugar mills in the country.
Source: United News of Bangladesh