The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Speakers at a discussion yesterday demanded a Commission to protect the jute industry of the country, as it is now on verge of destruction due to lack of proper policy, ignorance, corruption, illogical pressure of Word Bank and IMF for liberalization.

They also called upon Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC) to pay at least 50 per cent arrears of the old jute purchasing centres and purchase raw jute through the centres changing its existing arrear payment and jute purchasing policies.

Nagorik Sanghati with the cooperation of Action Aid Bangladesh organised the discussion titled "BJMC's Jute Purchasing Policy and Interest of Jute Cultivators" at the seminar room of Moni Singh-Forhad Trust Building at Purana Paltan in the city yesterday. Prof MM Akas of Economics Department of Dhaka University (DU) conducted the discussion with Prof ASM Atikur Rahman, President of the Sanghati, in the chair, while its General Secretary Sharifuzzaman Sharif was present.

Abdul Aziz, Organising Secretary of Small Traders and Cultivators Association, presented keynote paper.

They demanded payment at least of at least 50 per cent of the arrears of the old centres and purchasing of the raw jute by the 142 old centres.

The speakers said the government should allocate fund for the buying centres in time and take steps to increase the quality of jute.

Abdul Aziz said BJMC owes 142 business houses Tk 150 crore, but this year the BJMC opened only new 57 jute purchasing centres excluding the previous 142 centres, which is regrettable. The 57 centres are likely to fail to achieve the target of this year.

Besides, Shahidullah Chowdhury, workers' leader, Abul Hossain Bapari and Engr Sardar Amin, among others, were present at the discussion.