Dhaka: State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam announced today that the government is working to reopen closed jute mills under the Prime Minister’s directive to boost employment and strengthen the economy. He made this remark during a meeting with representatives of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jute Sramik Dal at his office at the Secretariat.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the State Minister revealed that the government is advancing plans to lease out 20 mills under private management, with the leasing process for 14 mills already completed. He assured that demands related to jute mills and workers would be given careful consideration, emphasizing that the sector had not received adequate attention during the previous government. The government intends to take prompt steps to implement these demands.
The meeting was led by Saeed Al Noman, Member of Parliament from the Chattogram-10 constituency and president of the organization’s central committee. Saeed Al Noman urged the government to consider reopening the closed jute mills on a pilot basis under state management, highlighting the need for state intervention in the sector.
During the meeting, leaders of the workers’ organization suggested that technical assistance from developed countries could be instrumental in improving the sector. The organization’s General Secretary, Abul Khayer Khaja, submitted an eight-point written demand. Key demands include reopening the mills under state management, banning the import and use of raw materials for polythene, recognizing jute as an agro-based industry with associated benefits, clearing all outstanding dues of workers, and taking measures to protect the valuable machinery of those mills.