The New Nation - Internet Edition

At a time when demand for jute in the international market is increasing sharply due to consciousness about environment and efforts of different commercial enterprises and political and social organisations, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation is engaged in discouraging farmers in jute cultivation.

It is known to all that the greater Mymensingh district is famous for jute production from time immemorial. Though jute production in other areas of the country has declined during recent years, Mymensingh is still producing jute in sizeable quantity. But the irony is that there is no jute godowns in the district now. Recently, the Corporation, violating the existing laws regarding land acquisition for the purpose of installing industries, sold out a jute godown of the now defunct Jute Trading Company in Kishorganj. This would further discourage jute cultivation in the region.

Under the enemy property act of 1965, the Pakistan government took control of the jute godowns owned by Hindus in the Kishorganj area and leased out those to the Jute Trading Company. Later, in 1974, the then government permanently handed over the ownership of the godowns to the Company. And in 1991, the government dissolved the Jute Trading Company and, in 2006, sold out all the sheds of Mymensingh area including Kishorganj. Now the government is trying to sell out all the properties of the Jute Mills Corporations.

Let us get organised to bring back the lost glory of jute. Let us demand for declaring the recently closed National Sugar Mill of Kishorganj as an agri-labour training institute and the denationalised industrial establishments including the Kishorganj Textile Mills as a technical college. At the same time, support the demand for digging canals extended from Chilmari in Kurigram to Hakaluki Haor of Sylhet in order to bring back navigability of 42 rivers.

Mollah Syedur Rahman

General Council Member, FBCCI.

Kishorgonj