Bangladesh calls for international tenders to reopen closed jute mills

30 Apr '21

1 min read

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Necessary steps are being taken to reopen state-owned jute mills that were closed down last year, according to Bangladesh textiles and jute minister Golam Dastagir Gazi. International tenders have already been called for opening the mills under private management on a lease basis. Old workers who were laid off will be rehabilitated when the mills become operational.

New employment opportunities will also be generated with these privately-owned jute mills, said the minister while addressing the media after the monthly coordination meeting of the ministry.

He added that the value and demand of jute has increased around the world and thus farmers are getting a fair price for raw jute. The price in the current season is close to Tk 3,000, up 50 per cent from last year.

Gazi also said that the country exported jute and jute products worth $953.56 million in the period between July and March of fiscal 2020-21, marking a 22.94 per cent rise from the same period last year. The growth is about 10.64 per cent more than the country’s target.

Bangladesh had decided to close all 22 state-run jute mills and lay off 24,886 workers last year due to heavy losses incurred by the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)

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