The government has taken a project involving Tk 1.5 billion (Tk 158 crore) to provide running capital and modernise handlooms for improving the socioeconomic condition of the weavers.
Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi on Wednesday mae the disclosure at the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Wednesday.
A total of 119,673 handlooms out of 320,781 are now remain closed across the country, he said, adding that the government has given Tk 750 million (Tk 75.06 crore) loan to 44,240 weavers against 65,451 handlooms under a project titled ‘Microcredit Programme for Weavers’ to reopen the closed handlooms.
The minister was replying to a tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker M Abdul Latif of Chattogram-11 in the House.
Additional duty above 5 percent and total value added tax (VAT) on importing thread, color and some others materials were exempted to give the weavers duty-free import facility, Gazi said.
Besides, the government has taken a project to set up ‘Sheikh Hasina Handloom Village’ at Shibchar upazila in Madaripur, he informed the House, reports BSS.
