New system raises hopes

Workers at work at Magura Textile Mills. The photo was taken on Monday. PHOTO: STAR

The mill suthorities however said the mill is in a break- even point and profit will be earned from next month.

About 380 male and female workers are working there now.

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The mill was reopened on September 23 after two years' closure. Under the new system, the mill supplies orders to buyers on contract. with Karnaphuli Traders, Pabna on the basis of 'service charge'.

Trade union, blamed for losses earlier, is not allowed at the mill now, the mill authorities told this correspondent during a recent visit.

It will run profitably from February if trade union is not formed and smooth power supply is ensured, which is available now, they said.

The mill produced 36.5 bales of yarn in September and earned Tk 2.30 lakh as 'service charge'. The loos was around Tk. 4 lakh.

In November, the mill earned Tk. 8.71 lakh as 'service charge' by producing 135 bales of yarn. The loss caem down to Tk. 2.67 lakh. Production increased to 162.5 bales and earnings to Tk. 11.45 lakh, reducting the loss to Tk 71,000.

Talking to The Daily Star the mill's General Manager (GM) Abdus Salam Kabir expressed his optimism that it would run profitably from next month as workers and othwer employees are performing their duties sincerely, gradually increasing the production.

The mill with 25056 spindles was set up on 16 acres land at Vitashair in Magura town at a cost of Tk 37.77 crore.

It was reopened after two years' closure from June 2002 with a loss of about Tk 89.69 crore since its inception in 1985, officials said.

Earlier, the mill was closed in 1999 with a loss of Tk 67.14 crore.

The BTMC had decided to lay off the mill and kept it closed with a privatisation plan in the wake of continued loss.

In such a situation, workers urged BTMC not to privatise the mill and agreed to comply with any condition to keep it running under government management, sources said.

From March 2000 to May 2002, the mill produced yarn for Karnaphuli Traders in Pabna in exchange of 'service charge'. Workers worked on 'no work no pay' bais. But the mill failed to earn profit this time also and it was closed. The loss during the period was about Tk 22.54 crore, the officials said.

BTMC then again decided to privatise the mill. But failing to so, due to pressure from different quarters and non-availability of buyer, BTMC decided to reopen the mill.

The buyers supply raw materials.