B Mirror Report: Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has said the government has plans to reopen the closed jute mills under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC).

He made the remarks on Thursday in Parliament while responding to a question from ruling party MP Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui. The session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The minister said that out of 25 mills under BJMC, nine are currently operating under private management. “There is a plan to restart the remaining closed mills,” he added.

He noted that production at all 25 state-run mills was suspended on July 1, 2020. Later, a decision was taken to lease 20 mills to the private sector. So far, the leasing process for 14 mills has been completed, with nine already in operation.

Efforts are underway to lease the remaining mills. Final proposals have been invited for three mills, while one is under evaluation. An expression of interest (EOI) has been sought for another, and leasing procedures for one more are in progress.

The minister expressed hope that the remaining mills would be brought into operation under private management by December this year.

Responding to another question from MP Mohammad Ali Asgar, he said jute was exported to 30 countries and jute goods to 138 countries in the 2024–25 and 2025–26 fiscal years.

In FY 2024–25, Bangladesh exported 42,039 metric tons of raw jute, while 22,850 metric tons were exported during July–February of the current fiscal year.

Jute goods exports stood at 751,739 metric tons in FY 2024–25, and 409,366 metric tons during July–February of the current fiscal year, he added.