The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Textiles and Jute on Saturday recommended mechanizing operations under the Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board and ensuring easier access to yarn, dyes and raw materials for marginal weavers.
The committee made the recommendations at its first meeting of the 13th National Parliament at the National Parliamnet with its Chairman Md Akhtaruzzaman Mia, MP, in the chair.
The committee also recommended ensuring transparency, integrity and accountability in the tender process by avoiding repeated awards of tenders to the same institution and providing opportunities to other eligible institutions.
It suggested involving local members of parliament in taking necessary steps to make yarn, dyes and other raw materials more accessible to marginal weavers through weavers' associations or the appointment of dealers, said a press release of parliament secretariat.
The committee further recommended examining the operations of the Bangladesh Handloom Board's office at Ranir Bandar in Dinajpur and verifying whether the land associated with the office had been leased out or allocated through other means before taking necessary action.
At the meeting, the committee reviewed the activities of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and its subordinate departments and agencies. Officials presented an overview of their operations and briefed the committee on the ministry's initiatives under the government's 180-day program and the progress of ongoing projects.
The committee also recommended conducting all activities of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in line with the prime minister's election manifesto and taking appropriate and necessary initiatives to implement its commitments.
At the beginning of the meeting, the chairman paid tribute to Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, former BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the Great War of Liberation. He prayed for the salvation of their souls.
He also paid tribute to those killed during the July 2024 movement and expressed deep sympathy for those injured in the movement.
Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, MP, State Minister Md Shariful Alam, MP, and committee members S M Faisal, MP, Md Abdullah MP, Rezeka Sultana, MP, Md Afjal Hossain MP, Hafez Muhammad Rabiul Bashar, MP, and Mahabuba Hakim, MP, attended the meeting.
The ministry secretary, heads of relevant departments and agencies, concerned officials and officials of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were also present.