The state-owned Khulna Hardboard Mill has suspended production amid a severe financial crisis. The officials have said the mill does not have fund since Monday evening to purchase furnace oil needed to continue production works. Hardboard worth Tk 3 crore produced by the mill has remained unsold in its warehouse since last two years, which led to the fund crunch, they said.
Besides, dealers have refused to purchase hardboard as authorities of the mill have not yet paid up their (dealers) outstanding bills worth Tk 50 lakh.
Khulna divisional Hardboard Dealers’ Association has sent messages to all dealers requesting them not to purchase hardboard from this mill until payment of outstanding bills in full.
The Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation did not get any response in its bid to sell the unsold hardboard even after inviting open tenders.
On the other hand, BCIC has informed the mill authorities that no more allocation of fund would be available from the government to run the mill.
It means that the mill is approaching its final shutdown although raw materials worth Tk 70 lakh are lying unused under open space, said joint secretary of the association M Shamsul Islam Jahangir.
‘We have already written letters to all dealers of the country not to participate in tender competition to purchase the unsold hardboard until our outstanding bills are paid,’ he said.
While talking to New Age, managing director of the mill Kazi Ruhul Amin, admitted to the severe financial crisis causing manifold problems in continuing the production works.
‘It has become quite difficult to pay salaries and wages of employees and workers,’ he said.
He, however, refused to comment on if the mill would be finally shut down under this circumstances.
-With New Age input
