Prices of all grades of raw jute have gone down as huge amount of natural fibres have been stockpiled in the local markets due to closure of trading for long during recent political deadlock in the country.

Most of the raw Jute exporters could not keep their agreement wtth the foreign buyers over timely shipment of the products during this period which has severely affected the foreign and domestic raw jute market, leaders of Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) said.

Rezaul Karim Vice Chairman of the BJA said according to primary information, the prices of all grades of raw Jute went down on an average Tk 50 to 60 per maund in the domestic market while It ex-' perienced a fall of US dollars 30 to 40 per metric tones in the International market.

Talking to The Daily Star at the BJA.office yesterday some raw Jute exporters and traders said that huge quantity of raw

Jute had been dumped at different Jute godowns in NarayanganJ and Dawlatpur. two major wholesale markets in the country.

They said that buying of raw Jute remained almost stopped by all government and private owned Jute and Jute spinning mills during this period while the Jute exporters have failed to reach the products to Chittagong and Mongla Sea ports for export due to absence of transportation system arising out of recent political stalemate

Although, the market has opened after long shut-down but it witnessing a dull situation due to dearth of foreign and local buyers. Rezaul said

The market price indicators of BJA was not changed because the exact figures of all grades of raw jute prices are yet to reach, he added.

The price indicators will be re-fixed soon after reviewing the market situation at the board meeting of the associa-

bon. he told this correspon

Since the beginning of Jute season this year the prices of raw Jute have been experiencing an upward trend. The priees of pucca jute rallied over Tk 4100 per bale and those of kutcha jute were around Tk 500 per maund during the month of January.

Statistics shows the price of raw Jute in the internktionaj ■market increased this year for which the earnings from this sector also Increased despite squeeze in export volume

According to the BJA. a to tai of 8 lakh 37 thousands bales of raw jute has been ex ported up to February 29 this year whfie the volume of ex C during the same period of year was 10 lakh 29 thou sand bales

The export earnings from this sector stood at Tk 240.80 crore during the period while the earning during the same period in previous year was Tk 181.20 crore.