The government is working on coordinated initiatives to reopen jute mills that were shut down during the previous administration due to what officials describe as mismanagement and poor governance, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat, the state minister said reviving the jute sector is part of the government’s broader plan to transform Bangladesh into a $1 trillion economy by 2034.
He noted that tackling unemployment and creating new job opportunities were key election pledges of the current government.
To support employment generation and strengthen the economy, the government has continued long-term leasing arrangements to restart jute mills under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) through private sector management.
Shariful Alam said that, following directives from the prime minister, the government has taken both short- and medium-term measures to revitalise the jute industry.
In addition, long-term plans are underway to establish a dedicated economic zone for the jute sector and to promote Bangladeshi jute internationally under the brand name “Golden Fiber of Bangladesh.”
The state minister also highlighted an ongoing project implemented by the Department of Jute titled “Production and expansion of advanced technology-based jute and jute seed.”
Under the initiative, farmers involved in the project are provided with free seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and agricultural equipment each year.
He said the discovery of the jute genome sequence has opened new possibilities for improving jute production and restoring the crop’s historic prominence in the national economy.
“Jute has immense potential and can play a significant role in achieving the country’s economic growth targets. We hope the golden days of the golden fibre will return once again to households across the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Mohammed Shahabuddin is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the National Jute Day programme on Friday at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. This year’s observance will be held under the theme “Build the jute industry, create employment.”
