The government has decided to start a new industrial factory through the Private Partnership Policy (PPP) at the closed Kurigram Textile Mills premises. As a result, the door to employment is going to be opened again in the district after 17 years. Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) completed the formal handover process of the mill premises through a ceremony at the mill premises on Friday (February 7) afternoon.

According to sources from the textile mills authority, as per the agreement, Western Engineering will operate four industrial factories in the Kurigram Textile Mills premises for a period of 30 years under the lease method. Four products will be produced in these factories. As a result of the new venture, thousands of local people will be employed in these factories.

BTMC authorities said that the textile mills were handed over to Western Engineering Private Limited on the lease method on Friday. Earlier, the company received the work order through an open tender method. The agreement between Western Engineering and BTMC was signed on January 26 this year. As a result, the reopening of the mills, which had been closed for 17 years, is going to provide employment to thousands of people in the district.

BTMC officials said that in 1986, the then government established the textile mills with the aim of eliminating the unemployment problem and socio-economic development of the region. Although it ran well in the beginning, problems arose later. The factory was declared closed in 2007 due to production complications. As a result, hundreds of workers and employees became unemployed. Since then, no new industrial factories have been established in the district. Those concerned hope that the reopening of the factory will create permanent employment opportunities for the working people.

Agreement, transfer and production activities

Western Engineering Private Limited has signed a lease agreement with BTMC for the Textile Mills premises through an open tender. The company has signed a renewable contract for 30 years at a monthly rent of 4 lakh 6 thousand 510 taka. However, Western Engineering will start paying this rent to BTMC 30 months after the transfer to complete the installation and preparation of the machinery. In the meantime, they will complete the process of going into production. According to the lease agreement, the company will not be able to sell the land of the textile mills premises or take a loan with collateral from the bank. Even if any trees need to be cut for the construction of the mills premises, it will have to be done in accordance with government rules, BTMC said.

Will be a multipurpose manufacturing factory

Earlier, Kurigram Textile Mills produced yarn and cotton products, but those products will no longer be produced. According to the agreement, Western Engineering will operate several businesses in a multipurpose manufacturing system.

BTMC General Manager (GM) Kazi Firoz Hossain told Bangla Tribune, “There will be no more textile activities in this factory. According to the agreement, Western Engineering will start several industrial factories here. For this, they will use our old facilities and build new facilities. They will operate construction activities and factories here in accordance with government regulations and environmental laws.’

kurigram-2
Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) handed over the factory to a new entrepreneur last Friday.

Regarding the product production activities, GM said, ‘According to the plan mentioned in the agreement, they will gradually build four industrial factories here – corn products (corn starch and liquid glucose), auto bricks and auto blocks, dairy and agro projects (dairy products and agricultural products), and multipurpose jute product production. The issue of producing these products after verifying the initial feasibility of raw material availability is mentioned in the agreement.’

‘As per the agreement, BTMC will have an office on the mills premises to monitor the activities. Our own manpower will work there. There is no scope for any activities that harm the interests of the state and the government to be carried out here,’ Kazi Firoz also mentioned.

What the new entrepreneur says

Western Engineering Private Limited Managing Director Bashir Ahmed, who was present at the handover ceremony of the factory to the new entrepreneur, said, “I have a long history with the people of the northern region, including Rangpur-Kurigram. That is why I came here to start an industrial factory. I do not think my company will be very profitable here. But like the government, I also want employment for the people here. I want to do some industries here that will create a huge environment for employment for the local people. In addition to employment for the people, socio-economic development, we will produce products that will benefit the country. We will start work soon. You will cooperate with us.”

What the BTMC Chairman said

BTMC Chairman Brigadier SM Zahid Hossain said, “This institution will remain with BTMC, the government will remain. But employment will be for the people of Kurigram. There will be development here. I came here with the idea of ​​how to utilize the resources and crops of this area. The employment that was here for the people of Kurigram must be returned. So that the wheels of the economy turn. If the area develops, the country will also develop. I hope that this time the industry will provide employment to the people of this area.’

Among others present at the event were BTMC Director and Additional Secretary Rakibul Bari, District Administration Additional District Magistrate B.M. Kudrat A. Khuda, Textile Mills In-charge Ariful Islam, District Jamaat Amir Abdul Matin, District BNP Convener Committee Member Hasibur Rahman Hasib and District Convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Abdul Aziz Nahid.