Govt determined to reopen closed state-run sugar mills: Commerce Minister
Photo Collected
Industries Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said the government is determined to reopen the closed state-owned sugar mills in the country. He said, in this process, maximum importance will be given to the three issues of sugarcane farming, workers and long-term profitable management of the company.
The Industries Minister also spoke about the launch of state-owned sugar mills in the speech of the chief guest in an exchange meeting with sugar farmers organized at the Panchagarh sugar mill premises on Saturday afternoon. According to him, these mills are the wealth of the people of Bangladesh. So it is the responsibility of the government to ensure their honest and effective use. He said, “We want the closed factories to return to production, create jobs and bring new momentum to the local economy.”
বিজ্ঞাপন
The Industries Minister said that at present some sugar mills are closed in the country and many mills which are in operation are being operated under various restrictions. Most mills are over 50 to 70 years old. As a result, effective revival of many institutions is not possible without modernization, reform and addition of new technology.
Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said, if sugar is made without fixing the challah (tin challah), then when it rains, all the syrup will turn. Some mills will have to be commissioned by adding new machinery, some will require infrastructure renovation, and some will have to consider alternative plans. But in all cases the interest of the beekeepers, employment of the workers and profitable operation will be ensured.
বিজ্ঞাপন
The Minister of Industry thinks that if an industrial factory is operational, not only the direct workers, but also many other people’s employment opportunities are created through the multidimensional economic activities associated with it. Consequently, reactivation of closed mills is crucial for overall economic activity and poverty reduction in the country. He said, if employment increases, the flow of money in people’s hands will increase, the local economy will be active and poverty will be reduced. It is with that goal that the government is advancing the work of industrial revival.
Chairman of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industry Corporation (BSFIC) presided over the event. Jahangir Alam. Muhammad Naushad Zamir, Member of Parliament of Panchagarh-1 Constituency, Secretary of the Ministry of Industry spoke as a special guest. Obaidur Rahman, BCIC Chairman Md. Saiful Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Panchgarh Shukria Parveen, District Council Administrator Touhidul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Farhad Hossain and Atikuzzaman, managing director of Panchagarh Sugar Mills Limited, along with sugarcane representatives, labor leaders and local dignitaries were present.
At the end of the meeting, sugar mill workers and sugarcane farmers handed over a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanding the opening of closed sugar mills.
It may be noted that Panchagarh Sugar Mills Limited was established in 1966-69 with a capacity of 1,16 tons of Akhmarai per day and started final production operations in 1969-70. Since the financial year 2005-06, the factory started incurring losses due to various reasons including increase in expenses, decrease in sugarcane production. In 2020, the loss increased to Tk 430 crore. In December of that year, the government suspended the threshing operations of Panchagarh sugar mill along with six factories of the country.
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