State-owned Khulna jute mills humming with activities
Long after the country's independence, jute mills in the Khulna belt are again humming with round-the-clock activities as demand for jute goods from foreign buyers has been on the rise.
In view of the increased demand, seven state-owned jute mills in the region have already procured a record 6.42 lakh quintal (1 quintal = more than 2 maunds) of raw jute from the farmers in three months ending October.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) regional liaison officer Rafiqul Islam recently told the news agency that requirement of jute by the seven mills during the current fiscal year is estimated at 15.16 lakh quintals.
“Funds are there and we will be able to purchase the rest of our requirement,” he said.
He noted with satisfaction that the mills were running in three shifts and there was no labour unrest.
“In fact, realisation has dawned among the workers that disruption in production would only cause their sufferings. They had been long unemployed due to the closure of the mills.”
The BJMC official said the procurement of raw jute this year was the highest since independence.
The mills had suffered enormous loss with closure for long periods and for lack of working capital in the past. Besides, corruption had nearly ruined the jute industry. Jute was used to be purchased from `forias' (middlemen) and often there were underhand dealings in the purchase, he said.
But this year, the government provided adequate funds well ahead of the jute season. The mills mostly purchased jute directly from the farmers. This way the farmers also got incentive price, added the official.
By the end of October Aleem Jute Mills purchased 29,271 quintal of raw jute, Carpeting Jute Mills - 30,738 quintal, Crescent Jute Mills - 2.30 lakh quintal, Eastern Jute Mills - 66,022 quintal, JJI Jute Mills - 57,219 quintal, Platinum Jute Mills - 1.46 lakh quintal and Star Jute Mills - 90,752 quintal.
The current stocks are enough to keep the wheels of the jute mills in Khulna region running for at least next six months, said the BJMC official.
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