OUR CORRESPONDENT, Narsingdi

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam yesterday said the government is planning to revive closed jute mills across the country by leasing them out in a bid to fulfil its electoral pledges and boost economic activity.

He was talking to journalists after visiting Cooperative Jute Mills and Bangladesh Jute Mill in Palash, Narsingdi.

He said the government is primarily interested in reviving the mills through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements or by engaging private initiatives, encouraging both local and foreign investors to invest in the once-thriving industrial sector.

He also said the tender process and evaluation of proposals for leasing several closed mills are currently underway.

“Once revived, these mills will support the national economy through local employment generation and production,” he added.

He further said the government is placing emphasis on improving the quality of locally produced jute seeds and expanding research efforts to restore the lost glory of the “golden fibre” through collaboration with the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI).

He also highlighted efforts to ensure fair prices for farmers.