Dhaka: Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today emphasized the necessity of enhancing industrial skills and improving educational quality to ensure the sustainability of the textile sector. He highlighted these points while addressing a seminar titled ‘Sustainable Transition to Employment: Preparation and Pathway for Textile Students’ at the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) in the capital’s Farmgate area.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister clarified that there are no government plans to establish or manage any new state-owned mills. Instead, the private sector will continue to lead business operations, with the government providing policy support and fostering a conducive environment. Muktadir stressed the need to update the curricula of textile institutes and engineering colleges to align with technological advancements.
The minister also announced that initiatives would be taken to involve the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) and capable private mills with educational institutions to enhance the standard of textile education. This collaboration is expected to alleviate the shortage of teachers, promote technological development, and provide students with practical industrial experience.
Muktadir identified key challenges facing the textile sector, including energy supply uncertainty, rising production costs, cost of funds, and technological limitations. He assured that the government is working to address these issues to make the sector more competitive by expanding man-made fiber, developing new products, and upgrading the value chain.
The seminar’s welcome speech was delivered by Textiles and Jute Ministry Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, with Associate Professor Dr. Abbas Uddin Shayek of Bangladesh University of Textiles presenting the keynote paper. The panel discussion included Executive Director of Blue Planet Kazi Masum Rashed and BTMA President Shawkat Aziz Russell.
Professor Dr. Abdus Shahid of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, student Rony Gazi of Gopalganj Textile Engineering College, and former student Md Kabir of Sirajganj Textile Institute also contributed to the event. Heads of various departments and agencies under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and both former and current students in the textile sector attended the seminar.