Govt's decision to receive loans at local jute sector's expense 'suicidal'
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, July 7: The discussants at a seminar here have termed the government's decision to receive $2,500 million (250 crore) loans from the World Bank on condition of squeezing the country's jute sector as 'suicidal'.
The seminar, titled "crisis in jute sector and the way out from it", and organised by 'Karmajibi Nari' (KN), an NGO, was held recently at local CDS Auditorium.
The discussants said that the government's negligence and implementation of erroneous policy as well as conspiracy of some international financing organisations are responsible for the decaying condition of the country's jute industry.
They said, due to the government's erroneous policy the country's jute sector is on the verge of extinction. It is pathetic that the government, after the closure of Adamjee Jute Mills, has opted for closing the rest of the jute mills also.
On the other hand, they said, neighbouring India has been implementing a $2,350 million UNDP-funded project to boost its jute sector.
Presided over by KN Programme Officer Fatima Sarker, the function was also addressed, among others, by Programme Officer Partha Paul Chowdhury, ADAB Rajshahi Chapter President SKS Lalon, CDS Programme Manager Shamim Ara, and Rajshahi Jute Mills CBA President Imdadul Haque and General Secretary Lutfar Rahman.
The written paper presented in the seminar mentioned that the Adamjee and other jute mills could be made profitable, if the loans received from the donors to arrange their closure were properly used for making them effective.
Apprehending a decline in the country's jute production, the statement also said, in the country the number of looms at the jute mills should be 14,200, whereas presently there are only 5,350 looms in 22 BJMC-managed jute mills.
Though BJMC earlier fixed the target of purchasing 1.5 million (15 lakh) bales of jute, but only 0.5 million bales of raw jute were purchased as against the target.
The statement also said, due to the prevailing bleak situation of jute production and purchasing by BJMC, the jute farmers are not getting the due price of their produce. They are, therefore, loosing interest in jute cultivation, gradually pushing the country's jute sector on the verge of extinction.
RAJSHAHI, July 7: The discussants at a seminar here have termed the government's decision to receive $2,500 million (250 crore) loans from the World Bank on condition of squeezing the country's jute sector as 'suicidal'.
The seminar, titled "crisis in jute sector and the way out from it", and organised by 'Karmajibi Nari' (KN), an NGO, was held recently at local CDS Auditorium.
The discussants said that the government's negligence and implementation of erroneous policy as well as conspiracy of some international financing organisations are responsible for the decaying condition of the country's jute industry.
They said, due to the government's erroneous policy the country's jute sector is on the verge of extinction. It is pathetic that the government, after the closure of Adamjee Jute Mills, has opted for closing the rest of the jute mills also.
On the other hand, they said, neighbouring India has been implementing a $2,350 million UNDP-funded project to boost its jute sector.
Presided over by KN Programme Officer Fatima Sarker, the function was also addressed, among others, by Programme Officer Partha Paul Chowdhury, ADAB Rajshahi Chapter President SKS Lalon, CDS Programme Manager Shamim Ara, and Rajshahi Jute Mills CBA President Imdadul Haque and General Secretary Lutfar Rahman.
The written paper presented in the seminar mentioned that the Adamjee and other jute mills could be made profitable, if the loans received from the donors to arrange their closure were properly used for making them effective.
Apprehending a decline in the country's jute production, the statement also said, in the country the number of looms at the jute mills should be 14,200, whereas presently there are only 5,350 looms in 22 BJMC-managed jute mills.
Though BJMC earlier fixed the target of purchasing 1.5 million (15 lakh) bales of jute, but only 0.5 million bales of raw jute were purchased as against the target.
The statement also said, due to the prevailing bleak situation of jute production and purchasing by BJMC, the jute farmers are not getting the due price of their produce. They are, therefore, loosing interest in jute cultivation, gradually pushing the country's jute sector on the verge of extinction.