The highest advisory body for the improvement of the jute sector could not hold a single meeting since 2012, contradicting an electoral pledge by the ruling Awami League to promote the golden fibre, which was once the country’s main export item.
While discussing development initiatives of the present government regarding the sector, a 10-member parliamentary standing committee on the textile and jute ministry recommended yesterday that the National Jute Sector Coordination Committee, headed by the jute minister, should hold a meeting immediately.
“It is unfortunate that the committee headed by the minister has not met a single time since 2012. It should meet immediately for policy guidelines from all stakeholders,” Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of the parliamentary committee, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.
Former jute secretary AshrafulMoqbulsaid the 38-member national coordination committee is comprised of representatives from both the government and private sector. The committee once played an important role in formulating guidelines for the development of the sector.
The standing committee also discussed the disbursement of government declared incentives for jute exports. It also noted that the government owed Tk650 crore to the state-run Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and the private sector for jute exports.
“The total pending incentives for jute exports stand at Tk650 crore. The BJMC’s share is Tk150 crore, while the private sector gets the rest,” Saber Hossain said, adding that his committee had recommended immediate distribution of the amount.
In 2013, former jute minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui told parliament that state-owned jute mills had run out of funds, and could not buy raw materials or pay wages.
The standing committee also backed the ministry’s proposal for modernising the jute mills, which would require over Tk2,000 crore.
“Most of the jute mills were set up in 1960s, and those are too old. So, BMRE (overhaul) of the mills would increase production by at least 50 percent, ultimately benefitting the sector,” Saber said.
Committee members Mirza Azam, Enamur Rahman and Sabina Akter Tuhin also attended the meeting, held at the parliament building.
