No evident progress has been seen in the last couple of years to finish constructing the Sheikh Hasina Specialized Jute Textile Mill, according to various sources.
The project is built under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) in Madarganj under Jamalpur.
According to the annual development program (ADP) report under the Planning Commission, no money was spent on this project until June 30, 2020, with no funds earmarked for the project in the current fiscal year 2021-22 as well.
The Economic Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had approved Tk518.85 crore for the specialized jute mill back on July 3, 2018.
Initially, the duration of the project implementation was from July 1, 2018 until June 30, 2020, said to be implemented with domestic funds.
Later, the duration of the project was extended up to June 30 last year.
It was supposed to be set up in 34 acres of land at Kamariya Char in Madarganj under Jamalpur under the supervision of BJMC.
Prime Minister Hasina laid emphasis on the production of fabrics using jute and cotton targeting the international market.
As part of this project, the government took the initiative to set up this mill considering the availability of jute raw materials.
Scientists of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI) have successfully conducted research on producing fabrics using raw jute and cotton, said an engineer involved with the project.
If the project is implemented successfully, it will be a milestone in the commercial production of diversified jute products. Besides, the private sector will also be encouraged to come forward to promote jute business which will help create employment and protect the environment, according to the project paper.
As per the project proposal, the proposed textile mill will produce 21.34 million yards of denim fabrics and help produce 432,000 dozen denim pants.
Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) President Mohammad Ali Khokon told Dhaka Tribune recently that the then-state minister for textile and jute Mirza Azam took the initiative to implement the project in the greater interest of the textile and clothing sectors.
The country has to spend several million dollars to import cotton, yarn and fabrics.
Successful implementation of the project would have helped readymade garment manufacturers procure yarn and fabrics at comparatively cheaper price and earn a substantial amount of foreign exchange by selling apparel items.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary standing committee on textiles and jute in October last year had recommended expediting construction works of the project, and paying arrears of all the workers under closed jute mills under Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC) as soon as possible.
Necessary steps will have to be taken by the concerned authority as the implementation of these two projects must have to be completed within the tenure of the present parliament," according to the recommendation of the committee.
Md Rafiqul Islam, deputy secretary of the ministry of textile and jute, and project director of the Sheikh Hasina Specialized Jute Textile Mill project, acknowledged the lack of construction progress to Dhaka Tribune.
However, a senior official of the ministry said that they will raise the project at a meeting with their minister Golam Dastagir Gazi soon.
