Demand is mounting for the establishment of a modern jute mill in Saltha Upazila of Faridpur, with farmers, businesspeople, political leaders, workers and residents saying such an industry could transform the local economy by ensuring fair prices for growers, creating employment and reducing poverty.
According to local sources, Faridpur is one of Bangladesh’s leading jute-producing districts, with around 75 per cent of its cultivable land under jute cultivation. The district produces more than 2,00,000 tonnes of jute annually, placing it among the country’s top jute-producing regions.
Saltha is regarded as one of the district’s key jute-producing areas.
Local farmers said most of the jute produced in the area is transported to other districts as raw material. They believe that establishing a modern jute mill in Saltha would allow them to sell directly at fair prices, reduce the influence of middlemen and lower transportation costs.
Residents also said a jute mill would stimulate not only the agricultural sector but also transport, trade and small industries. They added that it would increase employment opportunities for women and contribute to broader social development.
They further said Saltha has an abundant labour force and comparatively low labour costs, making it a commercially viable location for industrial investment. A jute mill, they said, could create direct employment for thousands of men and women, particularly unemployed young people.
Local youth and social worker Md Muradur Rahman said thousands of educated young people in the area remain unemployed.
Farmer Milu Sheikh of Khoyar village said farmers had been cultivating jute for years but often failed to receive fair prices. A local jute mill, he said, would enable them to secure better prices while reducing losses.
Unemployed youth Hannu Mollah said many graduates in the area were unable to find permanent jobs. He said a jute mill would create employment opportunities for many young people and improve their livelihoods.
Saltha Upazila Jubo Dal leader Md Mahfuz Khan said agriculture is the backbone of the local economy and jute is one of its principal cash crops. However, he said farmers are deprived of fair prices because of the lack of industrial facilities, while many young people remain unemployed. Establishing a modern jute mill, he said, would benefit farmers, workers and traders alike and generate substantial employment for local youths. He urged the government to take effective steps to establish the mill.
Saltha Bazar Traders’ Association General Secretary Sarwar Hossain Bacchu said a modern jute mill would benefit not only farmers but also have a positive impact on local trade and commerce.
Khandakar Khairul Basar Azad said unemployment has become a major social and economic challenge in Saltha. He said a jute mill would create jobs for thousands of young people, ensure fair prices for farmers and accelerate local industrialisation and overall development. He called for prompt action to establish the mill.
Former Saltha Upazila Parishad Vice Chairman Asad Matubbar said Saltha is well known nationwide for jute production, yet local farmers depend on mills in other districts to process their produce. He said a modern jute mill would ensure fair prices for farmers, create employment and inject new momentum into the local economy.
Saltha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Dabir Uddin said jute remains one of Bangladesh’s most traditional and promising cash crops and is produced extensively in the upazila.
He said establishing a jute-based industry or mill in Saltha would help farmers secure fair prices while increasing local employment opportunities and making the local economy more dynamic.
He added that the matter rests with the relevant authorities and that the government always gives importance to such initiatives. He said the issue would soon be communicated to the relevant department.
Faridpur Jute Department Assistant Director Mizanur Rahman said Faridpur is one of the country’s leading jute-producing districts, with Saltha producing particularly high-quality jute.
However, he noted that the upazila has no jute mill. Establishing a modern mill there, he said, would help farmers obtain fair prices for their produce while making local jute processing easier.
