Bangladesh: Farmers expect revival of Shyampur sugar mill
After nearly four years of closure, Shyampur Sugar Mill in Bangladesh is showing signs of revival. Local farmers are planting sugarcane in anticipation of the mill’s reopening, part of a broader government plan to reopen nine out of 15 closed mills. Despite previous failed efforts, a task force is assessing the feasibility of reopening Shyampur and other mills. Production may resume in December 2024, depending on approval.
Rangpur: After nearly four years of dormancy, the Shyampur Sugar Mill stands as a rusting relic of the past, its machinery worn down by time and its premises looted of valuable materials. But hope is again stirring for local farmers and workers as the interim government signals plans to revive the nation’s struggling sugar industry.
Farmers in the area have returned to the fields, planting sugarcane seedlings in anticipation of better days. Their renewed optimism comes as the government announces its intention to reopen nine of Bangladesh’s 15 closed sugar mills. Among the remaining six mills under review is Shyampur, where the effects of the 2020 shutdown have rippled through farming communities, leaving many in financial distress.
Shyampur is not alone. Farmers near Setabganj Sugar Mill in Dinajpur, Rangpur Sugar Mill in Gaibandha, and Panchagarh Sugar Mill are facing similar struggles, with the uncertainty of the mills’ future hanging over their livelihoods.
Efforts by the previous Awami League government to bring in domestic and foreign investors failed to yield results. While companies from Japan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates expressed interest, none of the proposals materialized. A memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh’s industrial giant S Alam Group initially raised hopes but was later cancelled following allegations of irregularities.
Despite the setbacks, there is fresh momentum. A government task force, formed after the interim administration assumed power, is actively assessing the feasibility of reopening the six remaining mills, including Shyampur. Altaf Hossain, a member of the task force and former president of the Shyampur Sugar Mill Sugarcane Growers Council, revealed that the task force had recommended a gradual resumption of operations.
“If everything goes well in the 2024-25 planting year, and the chief advisor gives his approval, production may begin in December. We are hopeful,” Hossain stated, adding that about half the farmers linked to Shyampur have already planted sugarcane on their land, viewing it as a sign of renewed faith in the mill’s revival.
Jahedul Islam, assistant manager of Shyampur Sugar Mill, provided additional details, saying, “Shyampur Sugar Mill was closed on December 2, 2020, through a government notification. Later, a committee was formed in 2023 to assess its feasibility. The committee’s activities are ongoing.”
He noted that an 11-member committee, established under the national task force after the interim government took office, is currently reviewing the potential for reopening the shuttered mills. “The activities of the committee are ongoing, but no final decision has been made yet,” he said.
To read more about Sugar Industry continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Chinimandi
Recommended for you
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
