The Minister of Textiles and Jute and Member of Bangladesh Awami League President Mandoli, said that jute products are being exported to different parts of the world. Our entrepreneurs are earning a lot of foreign exchange by exporting jute products. Our jute products are being exhibited in various international handicraft fairs and are getting huge purchase orders. In the coming days, the world market of jute products will be in our possession, Inshallah.
The Minister of Textiles and Jute said that the vanity bag that Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took with her on the eve of presenting the budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the National Parliament yesterday was made of jute. The saree she wore that day was made of jute. Last week on the occasion of National Tea Day Hon’ble Prime Minister said that ‘Jute Tea’ should be made from jute bud. So it is clear how much importance he gives to jute and jute products. He also encouraged the garment industry which is now our major export sector.
Referring to the problem of raising jute, the minister said that water and ponds are not easily available in many areas for raising jute. We are trying to see if jute can be raised in a small area or if jute can be easily used using chemicals.
He called on the public representatives to organize yard meetings and encourage them to take up jute cultivation.
The minister said that import dependence of jute seeds should be reduced. Fertilizers, pesticides and good seeds should be provided. Jute bags should be used for paddy, rice, wheat. He called for the increase in jute seed production and said that since Faridpur region is rich in jute production, the jute farmers should take a leading role in the production of jute seeds. For this you will be provided all kinds of support.
He said these things in his speech as the chief guest at an exchange meeting with jute farmers, mill owners, businessmen and stakeholders related to jute sector at Bangladesh Shishu Academy Auditorium in Faridpur today. The Department of Jute in collaboration with the Faridpur district administration organized this meeting. Minister of Fisheries and Livestock and Member of Parliament for Faridpur-1 Constituency Md. Abdur Rahman was present as the guest of honor on the occasion.
Honorable guest Fisheries and Livestock Minister and Awami League presidium member Bir Muktijodha Md. Abdur Rahman said jute is a challenging sector. However, honorable Prime Minister Jannetri Sheikh Hasina is trying her best to enrich this jute industry. He said that the jute industry should be brought under multipurpose production. If the demand for jute and jute products increases, the propensity to supply will increase. And to increase the demand, the multi-purpose use of jute should be emphasized. He further said that the farmers will be encouraged to grow jute only when they get good seeds, can raise jute properly and can market their produce safely and get fair price. He urged to consider whether a method of jute fiber removal without water could be invented. Apart from this, he gave advice to solve the problem by holding an inter-ministerial meeting to eliminate the water crisis related to raising jute.
Jute farmers, traders and entrepreneurs participating in the discussion said that jute plants need effective pesticides. Necessary water should be provided for raising the jute. Alternatives to polythene should be made available. The use of jute sacks and bags should be increased. Use of polythene should be banned. Measures should be taken to give incentives to jute growers.
Shahdab Akbar Chowdhury Labu, member of Parliament of Faridpur-2 Constituency, Jharna Hasan, Member of Parliament of Reserved Female Constituency of Jatiya Sangsad, Secretary of Textile and Jute Ministry, Md. Abdur Rauf, Director General of Jute Directorate, Faridpur, were present as special guests under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur, Kamrul Ahsan TalukdarDistrict Police Superintendent Mohammad Morshed Alam, Faridpur District Awami League General Secretary Shah Md Ishtiaq Arif and others. Also representatives of Chamber of Commerce and Industries and various business leaders, representatives of jute mill owners, jute growers and related persons were present.
Later, the minister organized in the premises of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Inaugurated the multipurpose jute product fair.