Jalil Textile Mills Limited, a state-owned textile mill under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), is set to be transferred to the Bangladesh Army for the expansion of the Bangladesh Ordnance Factory (BOF).
Commerce, Industry and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir said Bangladesh should develop its defence industry into a modern, technology-driven and production-oriented sector while strengthening the country’s defence capabilities and exploring opportunities to export defence products.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a ceremony marking the signing of an agreement to transfer Jalil Textile Mills to the Bangladesh Army for the expansion of the BOF at the mill’s auditorium in Bhatiari, Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Thursday.
The minister said the expansion of the BOF would increase the country’s capacity to manufacture defence equipment and create new employment opportunities.
Highlighting changes in the global defence landscape, Muktadir said the nature of warfare and military capabilities is changing rapidly. Technological advances in defence systems over the past two to three decades have become more evident through recent global conflicts, demonstrating how innovation and modern technology can significantly enhance military capabilities at relatively low cost.
Modern technology-based equipment, including drones, is changing the pace and nature of warfare, he said. At the same time, technological developments have challenged the traditional practice of storing large quantities of ammunition and military equipment for extended periods.
“Bangladesh’s defence industry must therefore be developed as a technology-based and innovation-driven sector in line with the changing global reality,” the minister said.
He stressed the importance of research and development in building a modern defence industry. Many countries have made significant progress in drones and other advanced defence technologies and are producing various types of equipment at comparatively low costs, he said.
Bangladesh also has considerable opportunities in this area, the minister said, adding that the country can quickly build capabilities by leveraging knowledge and technologies developed elsewhere. However, long-term technological capacity must also be developed through domestic research and innovation.
Muktadir said the BOF expansion should not be viewed merely as a project aimed at meeting domestic demand, as it also has considerable export potential.
“If proper planning, research, technology and skilled manpower can be ensured, Bangladeshi defence products will be able to enter international markets in the future,” he said.
The government will take positive initiatives to create opportunities for exporting defence products and secure the necessary approvals, he added.
He said the objective of taking domestically manufactured products to international markets should also apply to defence products. Success in defence exports, he said, should not be measured solely by foreign exchange earnings; it would also enhance Bangladesh’s technological capabilities, industrial capacity and international standing.
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam said the government is working to revive closed industries across the country and put them to productive use.
He said initiatives are being taken to reopen and repurpose closed industrial establishments by considering their location and economic potential, in line with the government’s commitment to reviving such industries.
“The land being handed over to the Bangladesh Army today will be used to expand a very important institution,” the state minister said.
Brigadier General (retd) AKM Shamsul Islam, adviser to the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Division; General Waker-Uz-Zaman, Chief of Army Staff; Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute; and Brigadier General SM Zahid Hasan, chairman of BTMC, also spoke at the event.
The Chattogram Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, District Police Superintendent, senior officials from various government agencies and journalists from print and electronic media attended the ceremony.
BTMC Chairman Brigadier General SM Zahid Hasan signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation, while Military Estate Officer Sazia Taher signed it on behalf of the Bangladesh Army.
