Bangladesh : PM directs reopening of closed, ailing industries
Bangladesh’s government has directed ministries to revive closed jute and sugar mills through private sector partnerships. The plan focuses on retaining former workers, creating new jobs, and reopening hundreds of sick industrial units. A government-led committee will design the revival framework to boost industrial activity, investment, and employment across the country.
Prime Minister (PM) Tarique Rahman has directed the relevant ministries to take initiatives to reopen the country’s closed and ailing industrial establishments in collaboration with private sector entrepreneurs, with a focus on reviving shuttered jute and sugar mills.
Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon confirmed the directive on Tuesday, stating that the prime minister has instructed the concerned ministries to work toward reopening the sick and closed factories.
However, he noted that the specifics of how private entrepreneurs will be involved, including the nature of ownership or partnership arrangements, are yet to be finalized.
The directive emphasizes that former workers of the closed mills must be retained in their positions while also creating new employment opportunities through the revival process.
According to data presented in the national parliament in June 2024 during the previous Awami League government, there were 397 closed industrial establishments under the Industry Ministry’s control at that time.
Of these, 382 were sick or closed units under the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation, five were under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, six were sugar mills under the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, and four were factories under the Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation.
The number is believed to have risen further over the past two years, though no updated statistics have been released by the government.
BIDA Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury said the prime minister has directed the creation of new employment opportunities and called for initiatives to reopen closed and ailing factories.
He confirmed that a committee led by the Industry Ministry is beginning work on the matter.
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Source : Daily Observer
