Bangladesh earned a sum of Taka 710.63 crore by exporting 1 35 lakh metric tons of raw jute and 2.55 lakh metric tons of jute products during the July-December period of ■ the current financial year. Jute Minister ASM Hannan Shah in formed the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday, reports BSS.

Replying to a question from Sarder Sakhawat Hossain Bakul

(Narslngdi). the minister said the earning from export of jute and jute products tn the first six montits of this fiscal year was Taka 88.75 crore more than that of the corresponding period in 1993-94.

in reply to a supplementary, he said Bangladesh had earned Taka 1020.08 crore by exporting 4.66 lakh metric tons of jute products and Taka 224 70

crore by export ing I 1.88 lakh bales of raw Jute in 1993-94 financial year

In reply to another supple mentary. he said internal de mand of raw jute was 30 lakh bales while 12 to IS lakh bales are exported per annum.

He said that the export tar get of raw jute had been fixed at fire lakh bales in the current fiscal year.