Thakurgaon sugar mill begins operations

Thakurgaon Sugar Mill, the largest sugar mill in the northern part of the country, started its production from yesterday afternoon.

Lawmaker of Thakurgaon-1 and also presidium member of Awami League Ramesh Chandra Sen inaugurated the operation as chief guest at a programme on the mill premises.

Sugarcane crushing this season has started amid a different atmosphere as the sugarcane produced under Panchagarh and Setabganj mills are being brought to Thakurgaon for crushing. This follows Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation's decision to shut the two mills this season due to losses.

Managing Director of Thakurgaon Sugar Mills Md Shakhawat Hossain told The Daily Star that the mill will run for four to four-and-half months of the current season.

The production target has been fixed at 9,639 tonnes of sugar by crushing one lakh 53 thousand of canes, with the expected recovery rate from canes set at 6.3 percent, the official said. Of the canes, 60,000 tonnes will come from Thakurgaon zone, 48,000 tonnes from Panchagarh zone, while 45,000 tonnes will come from Setabganj zone.

Among others, Deputy Commissioner of Thakurgaon Dr KM Kamruzzaman Selim spoke at the programme.