The government has approved in principle a plan to redevelop Kokil Textile Mills Limited in Brahmanbaria through a public-private partnership (PPP), seeking fresh private investment in a textile mill that was nationalised, privatised and later brought back under state ownership.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the proposal on Monday, paving the way for Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) to pursue the project.
The proposal, titled Development of Kokil Textile Mills Limited, Brahmanbaria, was the only item considered at the committee’s meeting.
The government has yet to disclose the expected investment, scope of redevelopment, private partner selection process or implementation timetable.
Kokil Textile Mills was nationalised in 1972 following Bangladesh’s independence. Historical World Bank records show that the mill had 12,400 installed spinning spindles in January 1973, of which 10,993 were operational.
After years of inefficiency, the government privatised the mill in 2006. It returned to state ownership in 2017 after the private operator failed to run it successfully.
However, Monday’s decision does not constitute a final investment agreement.
