The government will sit with labour leaders after the Eid-ul-Fitr to find ways to reopen the closed Adamjee Jute Mills-2, officials have said.
The ministry of textiles and jute is now set to take measures for reopening the jute mills, the largest in Asia, a high official of the ministry told the FE. The ministry was working on the issue, he added.
The mill was closed as per suggestions of the World Bank during the last BNP-led four-party alliance government.
Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan also dropped a broad hint at such a move on Friday at a discussion held in the city marking the 14 years of closure of the Adamjee Jute Mills.
The Adamjee Jute Mills Chalu Sangram Parishad (AJMCSP) organised the event.
"I have talked about the issue with the ministry of textiles and jute. There will be a meeting of the minister and the state minister for jute with labour leaders to discuss the issue," Shajahan Khan said at the discussion at the National Press Club.
About reopening of the Adamjee-2, the shipping minister, also regarded as a labour leader, said: "The ministry of textiles and jute will sit with labour leaders soon to discuss the matter."
Mr Khan urged the labour leaders to come up with concrete suggestions at the ensuing meeting.
After the meeting, a proposal will be sent to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to consider reopening of the mills on 11 acres of land in Narayanganj, according to the ministry.
Member of Parliament AKM Shajahan Kamal, president of the AJMCSP Md Shahabuddin and labour leader Md Alauddin Mia, among others, were present at the discussion.
The shipping minister said BNP chief Khaleda Zia was doing the 'politics of killing' that was introduced by her husband Ziaur Rahman after assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"She is continuing to spread falsehood even during the ongoing month of Ramadan. She has two virtues-resorting to falsehood and killing people," Mr Khan said.
He also said Khaleda did not only kill people but also threw millions of labourers out of employment by closing the mill during her regime.
The Adamjee Jute Mill was established in Narayanganj in 1951 by the then Adamjee Group, the second of its kind after the Bawa Jute Mills.
Gradually the mill became the largest one in the world leapfrogging the jute mills of Kolkata, India, and the Dundee in Scotland.
The Adamjee Jute Mill was officially closed down in 2002 in the face of mounting losses caused by inefficiency, mismanagement and corruption despite protests from local policy makers and political opponents. About 30,000 employees lost their jobs. The mill began incurring losses after 1973.
After closure of the mill a new industrial zone was established at the same location in August 2011.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com
