Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation on Monday claimed that it could not purchase raw jute due to fund crisis though the season of purchasing jute is running out.
At a view-exchange meeting with journalists, BJMC chairman Humayun Khaled said that they were not getting funds despite repeated requests made to the higher authorities including jute and textile ministry.
‘It will not be possible to keep 26 jute mills operational in coming days if the situation continues,’ he said.
BJMC, a state-owned corporation, set a target of buying a total of 26 lakh quintal raw jute this year costing Tk 800 crore to Tk 900 crore and the purchase will have to be completed within the season starting from August to November, he said.
He said, ‘This is the pick season for purchasing jute and I went to the ministry, to the parliamentary standing on jute and textiles ministry, wrote letters frequently seeking funds for buying jute.’
BJMC is yet to get any fund for the purpose though the season of purchasing quality jute is running out, he said.
He also pointed out some reasons including indifference of the government, conspiracy of unscrupulous groups, non-implementation of mandatory jute packaging act, reduction of production capacity of mills equipped with age-old machineries, absence of bank loans for jute cultivation for the poor condition of country’s jute sector.
He, however, said that still there was a huge demand of jute goods in international market and Bangladeshi exporters would have to produce diversified products to tap a good share of the market.
At the meeting, BJMC secretary ANM Al Firoz, among others, was present.
-With New Age input
