News Flash
SANGSAD BHABAN, June 15, 2026 (BSS) – Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said in Jatiya Sangsad that the government expects the remaining state-owned jute mills under lease arrangements to become operational by December 2026, helping boost production of environmentally friendly jute products as an alternative to polythene.
The minister said this in parliament while responding to a starred tabled question from opposition lawmaker Salah Uddin (Gazipur-4) regarding government plans to revive closed state-owned jute mills to meet the growing demand for jute and gunny bags.
Replying to the query, Muktadir said, “Of the 25 mills under the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), nine mills are currently in operation under private management.”
He informed the House that the government had decided on July 1, 2020, to suspend production activities at all 25 BJMC mills and subsequently approved a plan to reopen 20 of them through lease-based private management.
The minister said, “Lease agreements for 14 mills have already been completed, of which nine mills have been reopened and are currently operating.”
Regarding the remaining mills, he said efforts were continuing to lease them out. According to the minister, final proposals have been invited for three mills, evaluation of an Expression of Interest (EOI) proposal is underway for one mill, another mill has been advertised for EOI submission, while leasing procedures for one more mill are in progress.
Expressing optimism about the future of the sector, Muktadir said, “In line with the government’s announced 31-point outline, the remaining mills are expected to be brought into operation under private management by December 2026.”
The minister also clarified that five mills were excluded from the leasing programme. “Among the five mills kept outside the leasing process, three were excluded because they fall within city corporation jurisdictions, while two others were left out due to ongoing legal disputes,” he added.
