Treating jute sector as agro-based industry recommended

Jute Commission in its preliminary report Monday has strongly recommended to the government to declare the jute sector as 'agro based industry', having provisions of fiscal supports with other required facilities as given to other existing agro sector industries in the country. The commission also suggested to the government to take steps to increase jute production, ensure fair price of jute to farmers by curbing the middlemen and give tax holiday and other supports to the sector. The report of the commission was handed over by its Chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad to the Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddique Monday at the conference room of the ministry. The jute minister said the government will put the commission's report, upon its finalisation, to the Cabinet within the next two months so that the nation could have a Jute Policy. The other major recommendations of the commission include steps for exporting jute and jute goods and make a buffer stock of the golden fibre locally so that the prices of jute could remain stable to bring back the glorious days of the ailing jute sector.