Govt working to reopen closed jute mills to create jobs: Shariful

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam has said the incumbent government is working to reopen the closed jute mills with a view to increasing employment opportunities in the country, reports BSS.

"This employment opportunity will be created by reopening the jute mills through the leasing process . . . About 7,200 people are working so far in the nine leased jute mills, which is positive for the country's production and employment," he told journalists on Thursday at a press briefing at Bangladesh Secretariat conference room.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, the 'National Jute Day-2026' is being celebrated across the country with the theme "Develop the jute industry, create employment".

The State Minister said since the export of raw jute is unprofitable; the government is interested in exporting processed jute products while there are tax exemption facilities for entrepreneurs in this regard.

Noting that the country's history, tradition and economy are intertwined with jute, he said the country has earned 418.69 million US dollars from the export of jute and jute products till December of the current fiscal year, which is more than the same period last year.

He said the government's goal is to increase the country's economy to one trillion dollars by 2034, in which the jute sector will play an important role.

Textiles and Jute Ministry Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi and senior officials of the ministry and departments and organisations were present.