The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

New "Jute Policy 2008" should not follow the IMF and WB recommended jute sector alteration strategy. It should ensure the maximum national benefits, diversifying the production and use within the country and abroad.

"It has been realised that the adoption of IMF and WB suggested jute policy actually suggests to shut-down state-owned jute mills in the name of privatisation. Because of them, we have lost the control of manufactured jute products market, despite our status of being the largest jute producing country," said speakers in a seminar on Jute Policy-2008.

Under the banner of Nagorik Sanghati, the seminar was organised at the national press club yesterday in the capital. Speakers suggested various aspects for the upcoming Jute Policy-2008 to ensure the best national interest, instead of implementing IMF and WB policies.

It was informed that the present Government is undertaking a fresh national jute policy for Bangladesh, which have been delayed several times in the past.

"The government has already drafted the Jute Policy-2008, where they have only pointed out related problems, instead of suggesting any suitable solutions," said the former president of Bangladesh Economic Association and Dr Moinul Islam while addressing the seminar.

Speakers in the seminar, who are experts in different fields, suggested that the Government should ensure the availability of Jute seeds, fertilisers and insecticides in subsidised rate. It was also recommended that the finance ministry should provide agriculture loans during the jute harvesting seasons in lower interest rates.

Moreover, they have recommended withdrawing the shutdown order from all state-owned jute industries. Beside that, they urged Government to ensure the purchase of raw jutes directly from the growers at a fair price for the state owned jute industries.

With the implementation of our recommendations, we believe, the jute sector will reclaim its lost status in Bangladesh. This will also make our national economy sound, as it was during the pre-independence jute-oriented economy, added the speakers.

Eminent journalist Gholam Murtaza, President of Bangladesh Workers Party Rashed Khna Menon, Hasanul Haq Enu, Shaikh Shahidul Islam, GM Kader and other economists joined the seminar as panel speakers.