Local production now can meet more than 80 per cent of the 0.5 million- tonne annual demand for writing, printing and newsprint papers, industry sources said as they sought government patronage for flourishing the fledging industry.
Bangladesh Paper Mills Association (BPMA) sources said they are meeting major part of the domestic demands with the output of seventy mills across the country.
Professor Majedul Islam, president of the BPMA, said: "We are using state-of-the-art machinery in our mills and are manufacturing world- standard papers."
He said if the government supports local industries, it is possible to meet cent percent demands.
He said if public schools and other institutions' books are printed locally, it would support the growing paper mills.
According to industry sources the government is printing a large number of public books in India. As a result, local industries are being deprived despite having quality paper products.
The BPMA president said packaging-quality high technology-based papers which are currently being imported are possible to manufacture in Bangladesh if there were supports from the government.
He said, "The government's book printing in India is ridiculous to us."
Shafiqul Islam Vorosa, President of Bangladesh Paper Merchants Association, however, said in the name of local industries' protection the government has raised duty up to 62 per cent on commercial imports for some high-quality categories of paper.
He said except for the newspaper industry duties on imports for all kinds of paper are high. As a result, consumers' rights are violated in the open- market economy.
About allegations of misuse of bonded warehouse facilities he said there is no scope to remove bonded goods as per the current rules and regulations.
Mr Islam, also director of apex trade body FBCCI, said papers imported for packaging pharmaceuticals, garments and other industries under bonded facilities are properly being used by the exporters.
He said through such allegations a group of people are trying to discourage import.
Another paper-mill owner said if local industries are supported by the government, the existing amount of import would be reduced as it is not possible for local mills at this moment to manufacture all types of high- tech paper products.
He said the existing market share in 0.5 million tonnes of demands happened for a large amount of private investment whereas the government is getting books printed in another country.
"Low-quality paper is being used in printing books in foreign countries. It is not happy to learn that despite having local papers at cheaper prices, books are being printed in foreign lands," he said.
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