The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Adviser for Jute and Textiles has disclosed that five jute mills which were closed down during the present government, would be re-started gradually. People's Jute Mills of Khulna shall go into production in July next and four others in due course. The jute mills will be leased out to individuals or groups initially for five years and the process is in progress.. Permanent labourers of the mills shall get back their jobs and against vacancies labourers will be employed on a daily basis. The general policy of the government is to privatise all state-owned industrial units of all sectors. But over the last one decade progress made in this area is limited. In the given circumstances, it is wise to keep the unsold units operative until they are sold out.

Only two decades back jute and jute goods were our number one foreign exchange earners. But as a consequence of nationalisation and the government's indifference, production of raw jute by the farmers and manufacturing of jute goods in mills fell drastically. This adversely affected both jute farming and jute goods manufacturing. The trend must now be stopped and jute production and jute goods manufacturing restored to their lost glory.

The adviser has disclosed that the government has taken up a programme to offer micro-credit to jute growers of 100 upazilas in 40 districts. Micro-credit should be given to all jute farmers and not only those in 100 upazilas. Along with this, as the Adviser has said, diversified uses of jute should be evolved to enhance its demand in the international market. Market should be searched and the effort may be tuned with RMG marketing activities for better results.