76 out of 86 flour mills closed in N'ganj
Sunday, 23 March 2008
NARAYANGANJ, Mar 22 (UNB): Around 76 out of 86 flour mills at Nitaiganj of the district closed their operations in last one year due to short supply and exorbitant price of wheat.
Once Nitaiganj was famous for producing 75 per cent flour and fine flour of the total demand of the country but about 90 per cent mills have now been closed rendering over some 20,000 labourers jobless. Sources said that the running mills were continuing their production irregularly incurring huge losses.
The mills were renovated only five years ago spending Tk 10 million (1.0 crore) to increase their production. But the soaring price of wheat in the global market has landed local flour mills into trouble and led to closure of most of them, the sources said.
Mill owners said there is a maximum demand of 1.5 million tonnes for flour and fine flour at present whereas it was 4.3 mullion tonnes one year back.
According to them, the demand fell drastically in last five to six months as it turned into a food item for the rich people due to its high price.
If the situation continues, the flour mills will totally collapse soon, the owners apprehended.
Most of the flour mill owners are shifting to other professions after they became penniless, as the demand for flour has declined significantly due to its high price.
The mill owners have alleged that a syndicate, which is importing wheat from abroad and is selling it at a high price to the millers, is mainly controlling the industry at present.
The mill owners have further alleged that the syndicate members are creating pressure on them for buying the imported wheat at high rates fixed by them to earn windfall profit.
Once Nitaiganj was famous for producing 75 per cent flour and fine flour of the total demand of the country but about 90 per cent mills have now been closed rendering over some 20,000 labourers jobless. Sources said that the running mills were continuing their production irregularly incurring huge losses.
The mills were renovated only five years ago spending Tk 10 million (1.0 crore) to increase their production. But the soaring price of wheat in the global market has landed local flour mills into trouble and led to closure of most of them, the sources said.
Mill owners said there is a maximum demand of 1.5 million tonnes for flour and fine flour at present whereas it was 4.3 mullion tonnes one year back.
According to them, the demand fell drastically in last five to six months as it turned into a food item for the rich people due to its high price.
If the situation continues, the flour mills will totally collapse soon, the owners apprehended.
Most of the flour mill owners are shifting to other professions after they became penniless, as the demand for flour has declined significantly due to its high price.
The mill owners have alleged that a syndicate, which is importing wheat from abroad and is selling it at a high price to the millers, is mainly controlling the industry at present.
The mill owners have further alleged that the syndicate members are creating pressure on them for buying the imported wheat at high rates fixed by them to earn windfall profit.