Government leases out 3 state-owned jute mills

To reopen three long-closed state-owned jute mills, the government has leased them out to two private conglomerates. The agreements were signed with the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday.

The signing ceremony took place at the Cabinet Division conference room of the Secretariat, where BJMC Chairman Brigadier General Md. Kabir Uddin Sikdar signed on behalf of the corporation. Company Secretary Aminur Rahman signed for the PRAN-RFL Group, and Managing Director ATM Mostafa signed for the Hamko Group.

According to the agreements, the PRAN-RFL Group has leased the National Jute Mills Limited in Sirajganj and the Star Jute Mills Limited in Khulna. Meanwhile, the Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills Limited in Khulna has been leased by the Hamko Group.

Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu stated that under these agreements, the three long-shut jute mills will be revived under private management. Once operational, these three mills will create employment opportunities for at least 11,629 people. A total investment of approximately 619 crore taka will be made in these ventures, with a projected annual turnover of around 1,175 crore taka.

The National Jute Mill, located in Raipur, Sirajganj, is slated for an investment of about 157 crore taka. Its reopening is expected to generate employment for 5,238 people, with a potential annual turnover of roughly 500 crore taka.

The Star Jute Mill in Dighalia, Khulna, will see an investment of approximately 250 crore taka, targeting employment for 5,238 individuals and an annual turnover of about 500 crore taka.

The Platinum Jubilee Jute Mill in Khalishpur, Khulna, has a planned investment of about 212 crore taka. Its operation will create employment for at least 1,153 people, with an estimated annual turnover of nearly 175 crore taka.

It was informed during the event that out of 25 non-operating mills under the BJMC, a decision has been made to reopen 20 through private leasing. The leasing process for 14 of these mills has already been completed, and possession has been handed over to the lessees, with 9 of them already back in production.

The agreement-signing ceremony was attended by Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, Textiles and Jute Secretary Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, along with senior officials from the BJMC and the leasing organizations.