Over 100 sawmills facing closure in Rajshahi
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Our Correspondent
RAJSHAHI, Oct 8: Nearly 100 sawmills in the district are facing closure with resultant unemployment of thousands of workers and employees, sources said.
Forest officials of the district ordered the work suspension of the mills that do not have licences from the concerned authorities.
Sawmills owners said an owner has to renew the licence of the mill in due time for its smooth operation according to the saw mill licence act.
Forest officials recently sent legal notices to the defaulters for stopping the operations of sawmills. The notice mentioned that for not renewing the licence, a owner would have to pay Tk 10,000 as fine or to serve three-years' jail term in default.
Meanwhile, leaders of Rajshahi City Saw Mills Association termed the order of the divisional forest officer (DFO) as unreasonable, illogical and inhuman. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the order.
Rajshahi City Saw Mills Owners Association held a press conference at Metropolitan Press Club recently. The organisers said the notice for renewing or making licence was given to the owners of sawmills on February 14 for the first time.
Saw mill owners followed formal rules and applied for licences. They kept track of the progress of their applications regularly. But the forest officials mysteriously kept silent.
The speakers sought the intervention of higher authorities to end the crisis.
RAJSHAHI, Oct 8: Nearly 100 sawmills in the district are facing closure with resultant unemployment of thousands of workers and employees, sources said.
Forest officials of the district ordered the work suspension of the mills that do not have licences from the concerned authorities.
Sawmills owners said an owner has to renew the licence of the mill in due time for its smooth operation according to the saw mill licence act.
Forest officials recently sent legal notices to the defaulters for stopping the operations of sawmills. The notice mentioned that for not renewing the licence, a owner would have to pay Tk 10,000 as fine or to serve three-years' jail term in default.
Meanwhile, leaders of Rajshahi City Saw Mills Association termed the order of the divisional forest officer (DFO) as unreasonable, illogical and inhuman. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the order.
Rajshahi City Saw Mills Owners Association held a press conference at Metropolitan Press Club recently. The organisers said the notice for renewing or making licence was given to the owners of sawmills on February 14 for the first time.
Saw mill owners followed formal rules and applied for licences. They kept track of the progress of their applications regularly. But the forest officials mysteriously kept silent.
The speakers sought the intervention of higher authorities to end the crisis.