FE Report

The government has taken initiatives to re-open all closed state-owned mills in the country, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told the parliament Wednesday.

A proposal to open Chittagong Chemical Complex has been sent to the Cabinet Division, and the government is also conducting feasibility study on opening of Khulna Newsprint Mills and North Bengal Paper Mills, she said.

Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) has formed committees to open Qoumi Jute Mills and Doulatpur Jute Mills, and the government will gradually re-open other closed jute mills.

If the closed jute mills are opened, at least 5,000 people will get jobs, and jute farmers and others, related with the sector, will be benefited. Besides, it will play an important role to ensure social security, the Prime Minister said.

Silk factories in Rajshahi and Thakurgaon were closed down in 2002, but the parliamentary standing committee on textile and jute formed a sub-committee to evaluate the possibility of re-opening of those factories. After getting the recommendations from the sub-committee, the government will take decision on re-opening of the factories.

Besides, the government has taken initiatives to establish vocational training centres in 34 districts to train the unemployed youths, she added.