Private jute millers suggested leasing out of the mills under Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) to private sector for long time and declaring their machinery scarp.
They also recommended for demand-based production to ensure sustainability of the state owned jute mills that will be opened under fresh arrangement.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) made its recommendations to the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries recently.
Other recommendations of the BJMA include handing over the BJMC’s mills as fresh ones to private sector, formation of new trade union for workers, giving priority to recruit skilled staff and workers who worked at BJMC, low-cost fund for import of new machinery etc.
The BJMC’s mills should be leased out for 99 years so that stakeholders can avail loan from banks to restart the mills properly, the association thinks.
It also said the demand for hessian and sacking, the key exportable jute products from Bangladesh, declined in international market because of political turmoil in key markets of Syria and Sudan.
Besides, the anti-dumping by India also harm the overseas sale of Bangladeshi jute goods. So, market assessment is crucial before going for production
BJMA also suggested taking initiatives to increase local use of jute-made products to help smooth operation of mills. To this effect, mandatory jute packaging law has to be enforced duly.
However, the government shutdown the BJMC’s all 25 jute mills from July 01 following incurring continues losses over the years. A committee has been formed on July 16 to recommend reopening the units successfully within a short period.
