PM holds meeting on reopening closed factories

Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman on Monday (May 4) held a meeting with relevant ministries and officials to discuss the reopening of closed industrial units under the Ministry of Textile and Jute.

The meeting was held at the Cabinet Division office at the Bangladesh Secretariat in this morning.

Officials present included Commerce, Textile and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Prime Minister’s political and industrial adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, State Minister for Textile and Jute Shariful Alam, and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, among others.

The discussion focused on strategies to revive shut-down factories and restore industrial activity in the sector, according to officials.

Earlier, on Friday (May 1), speaking at a May Day rally organised by the Nationalist Workers’ Party, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said steps had already been initiated to reopen closed factories.

“We issued instructions a month ago on how quickly we can restart factories. We will hold another meeting this week. Gradually, we will bring all closed industrial units back into operation,” he said.

The government is expected to continue consultations with stakeholders to finalise a phased plan for reopening idle industrial facilities, sources said.