30,000 rendered jobless as 23 salt industries go bust in Khulna
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Some 30,000 people have become jobless as so far 23 big salt industries were closed down in Khulna district reportedly for shortage of funds and reluctance on part of authorities concerned, reports UNB.
The hapless people were involved directly or indirectly in those salt-refining industries. The salt factories in the coastal district are the largest in terms of production capacity and they play a major role in fulfilling demand for refined salt of different industries in the country.
Main users of salt are leather, detergent, soap, oral saline, pharmaceutical, dye chemical and textile industries. Apart from feeding those industries, the salt industries are also a major contributor to the nation's programme for removing malnutrition.
A total of 35 big salt iodising industries are situated in Khulna. They used to fulfil country's 70 per cent iodised salt requirement, according to the Khulna Salt Industry Owners' Association (KSIOA).
When contacted, KSIOA president and vice-president of Bangladesh Salt Mill Owners Association Sheik Mahbubul Haque Peter said out of the 35, seven industries are in full production. The units are Rajapur Salt Industries, Padma Salt Industry, Madhumati Salt Industry, Purabi Salt Industry, Titas Salt Industry and Teesta Salt Industry.
The rest of the industries, including Sundarban Salt Industries, Meghna Salt Industry, Gaffar Food Products Ltd and Ramna Salt Industry, could go bust soon unless they got attention from the authorities and adequate finance, he said.
"If all the properly built modern salt industries in the country close down this way, thousands of labourers and traders involved directly or indirectly in the trade will lose their jobs," said Peter.
As a result, he noted, refined salt prices will go up and there will be no buyer for crude salt. Therefore, naturally, salt farmers will be deprived of proper price of their produce.
Sheikh Azizul Haque, the owner of Sundarban Salt Industry, said they have a daily production capacity of 225 tonnes of iodised salt.
Bangladesh made a law banning the production and sale of non-idolised salt for human consumption on December 11 in 1994 in greater public interest.
Sundarban Salt Industry is one of country's first entrepreneurs to popularise iodised salt, and in a very short period of time, Bangladesh became self-sufficient in production of iodised salt to prevent iodine- deficiency disorders, the Sundarban Salt Industry owner observed.
At present, the salt industry produces, on average, only five tonnes per day. And the Sundarban industry will also be closed down shortly for lack of finance and for banking problems, Azizul Haque apprehended.
Quoting United Nations statistics, he said the percentage of population affected by malnutrition in the country is very alarming. "So, the government should immediately come forward to save the salt industries in greater national interest."
The hapless people were involved directly or indirectly in those salt-refining industries. The salt factories in the coastal district are the largest in terms of production capacity and they play a major role in fulfilling demand for refined salt of different industries in the country.
Main users of salt are leather, detergent, soap, oral saline, pharmaceutical, dye chemical and textile industries. Apart from feeding those industries, the salt industries are also a major contributor to the nation's programme for removing malnutrition.
A total of 35 big salt iodising industries are situated in Khulna. They used to fulfil country's 70 per cent iodised salt requirement, according to the Khulna Salt Industry Owners' Association (KSIOA).
When contacted, KSIOA president and vice-president of Bangladesh Salt Mill Owners Association Sheik Mahbubul Haque Peter said out of the 35, seven industries are in full production. The units are Rajapur Salt Industries, Padma Salt Industry, Madhumati Salt Industry, Purabi Salt Industry, Titas Salt Industry and Teesta Salt Industry.
The rest of the industries, including Sundarban Salt Industries, Meghna Salt Industry, Gaffar Food Products Ltd and Ramna Salt Industry, could go bust soon unless they got attention from the authorities and adequate finance, he said.
"If all the properly built modern salt industries in the country close down this way, thousands of labourers and traders involved directly or indirectly in the trade will lose their jobs," said Peter.
As a result, he noted, refined salt prices will go up and there will be no buyer for crude salt. Therefore, naturally, salt farmers will be deprived of proper price of their produce.
Sheikh Azizul Haque, the owner of Sundarban Salt Industry, said they have a daily production capacity of 225 tonnes of iodised salt.
Bangladesh made a law banning the production and sale of non-idolised salt for human consumption on December 11 in 1994 in greater public interest.
Sundarban Salt Industry is one of country's first entrepreneurs to popularise iodised salt, and in a very short period of time, Bangladesh became self-sufficient in production of iodised salt to prevent iodine- deficiency disorders, the Sundarban Salt Industry owner observed.
At present, the salt industry produces, on average, only five tonnes per day. And the Sundarban industry will also be closed down shortly for lack of finance and for banking problems, Azizul Haque apprehended.
Quoting United Nations statistics, he said the percentage of population affected by malnutrition in the country is very alarming. "So, the government should immediately come forward to save the salt industries in greater national interest."