JHENIDAH. Feb I Almost all the markets of greater Jessore. Khulna and Kushua districts have been flooded with smuggled Indian sugar causing much threat to our Io cal sugar industries Due to this price of local sugar falls in the markets as a good quantity of sugar lying unsold In differ ent stores ol sugar mills

According to reports everyday about one thousands inaunds of sugar is ami iggied to Bangladesh front various bor ders and river routes from West Bengal These sugar are being carried to different district ^hana or other important places for marketing Now in various markets one kilogram of sugar is sold between Taka 26.00 and 28 00. While it. is being sold near border areas like Manirampur and Keshab pur at Taka 22 00 in Kaliganj at Taka ^3 00 Kolchandpur Mohespur and Khalishpur of J hen id ah district between Taka 23.00 and 24.00. Bena pole. Bagachra. Sharsha and

Nar.iron in Jrssore district between Taka 17.00 and 19.00 a kilogram

According to a sources about 30 thousand nxtrii tons of sugar la lying unsold tn tlx store* o| Mobarnkgauj Sugrfr Milla 111 Jtwnklaii. Kushita Su gar Milla and barahana Sugar Mill* in Kushtia district and Madhukhali Sugar Milla tn Porkipur district

Tlx »ourr said that more .than 4 hundred dealers of concerned null* did not with draw their quota 61 sugar from the nulla as tlx rate of sugar la higher than tlx market price as Indian sugar is easily available in the market Talking to a dealer it was learn that there was a provision to reduce Taka 4 hundred a rnoutlf from the security money deposited by the dealers. Howwer. ihey were not tn (>osltlon lo with draw their quotas. The dealer said that they are compelled to lake delivery ot sugar at the rale of Taka 27 thousand per

metric tons and sale the sugar at lower prices

As the mills cannot sell thri sugar to dealers they arc in fl nanclal crisis and lac lug trou tries Io pay to the growers tn time

Another sourer said, the sugarcane growers of Moba rakganj Sugai Mills Kushtia Npgac Mills Darslialia Sugar Mills and Maclliukhall Sugar Mills are tn trouble with debts rising io at least Taka seven j rore payable to the growers A sugarcane grower alleged that he had appealed to the Mobarakganj Sugar Mills authorities to saru UMI a small amount of money to cover his sori s secondary school certificate (SSf ) examination fees but in vain "Die nulls authority could not pay the same to the growers

The sources added growers surrounded mills authorities of Mobarakganj. Kushtia and Darshana sugar mills to pay their money.