Jute mills won't be shut down any more

They will be made profitable again: Minister

16 March 2009, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Jute and Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui yesterday said that his government will take all necessary steps to economically develop the south-western (S-W) region of the country. The minister was talking to local journalists after visiting Mongla Sea Port and Mongla Export Processing Zone at noon. He further said that the government sincerely wants to reopen Khulna Newsprint Mills (KNM) for which there will be a comprehensive technical and feasibility study. KNM was shut down six years ago as it incurred huge losses. The minister reiterated that no more Jute mill would be shut down. Earlier, on Sunday, he said in Khulna that no jute mill will be shut down in future as economic development of the country greatly depends on development of industries. He said this at a press conference which was also addressed by the minister for industries Dilip Barua and state minister for labour and employment Begum Mannujan Sufian. The three ministers came to Khulna on Sunday from Dhaka to discuss some nagging industrial issues. The jute minister said his government is pledge-bound to turn all jute mills into profitable units again. "But it will take time as we have inherited a crippled economy," he added. "You can take it for granted that KNM will again go into operation as it was one of the election pledges of the government." "But it will also take time as we have to conduct a comprehensive technical study before reopening them," industries minister Dilip Barua said. While blaming the government of four-party alliance for crippling the jute mills, the jute minister also pointed at corruption by officials and CBA leaders.