Valuable machinery of Paksey paper mill on verge of ruination
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Our Correspondent
RASHAHI, Apr 13: The North Bengal Paper Mills (NBPM), situated at Paksey of Pabna district remained close for the last seven years resulting in damage of valuable machinery worth billions of taka.
The mill was built on 134 acres of land, houses the main factory as well as schools, medical centre and hostels for the workers to live in. The mill, which was built in 1969, went for production in the beginning of 1971 as test run and went for commercial production in 1975.
Some employees and officials, who are still posted there, said on condition of anonymity that the mill could run on profitable basis with available gas and raw materials. Nearly one thousand people could be employed there if it once again starts operation.
The officer complained about the politicisation of the NBPM administration and corruption as the main causes for the closure. He said, though the gas pipeline goes just outside the mill, it was not connected to the mill to reduce production costs.
The re-opening of the mill would cost a little over Tk 100 million but the mill could produce 15 thousand tonnes of paper a year at the rate of 40 tonnes a day.
The mill used the fibre (bagasse) of the sugarcane to produce high quality paper. But in 2002 the mill was closed on allegation of incurring losses.
This multi-million dollar project is now a mere waste piece of land surrounded by walls that houses old and rusty machine parts. Though its glorious days are gone, people still hope of its beginning afresh.
RASHAHI, Apr 13: The North Bengal Paper Mills (NBPM), situated at Paksey of Pabna district remained close for the last seven years resulting in damage of valuable machinery worth billions of taka.
The mill was built on 134 acres of land, houses the main factory as well as schools, medical centre and hostels for the workers to live in. The mill, which was built in 1969, went for production in the beginning of 1971 as test run and went for commercial production in 1975.
Some employees and officials, who are still posted there, said on condition of anonymity that the mill could run on profitable basis with available gas and raw materials. Nearly one thousand people could be employed there if it once again starts operation.
The officer complained about the politicisation of the NBPM administration and corruption as the main causes for the closure. He said, though the gas pipeline goes just outside the mill, it was not connected to the mill to reduce production costs.
The re-opening of the mill would cost a little over Tk 100 million but the mill could produce 15 thousand tonnes of paper a year at the rate of 40 tonnes a day.
The mill used the fibre (bagasse) of the sugarcane to produce high quality paper. But in 2002 the mill was closed on allegation of incurring losses.
This multi-million dollar project is now a mere waste piece of land surrounded by walls that houses old and rusty machine parts. Though its glorious days are gone, people still hope of its beginning afresh.