United News of Bangladesh

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Sunday told Parliament that the government remains committed to enhancing the overall capacity of the jute sector and meeting growing global demand for jute products. “Through diversification of jute products, modernisation of technology, skills development and expansion of export markets, the government’s commitment to strengthening the jute sector and meeting global demand remains steadfast,” he said. The Minister said this while replying to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Mohammed Enamul Hoque (Chattogram-12) in the House. The parliamentary session resumed at 3:25pm after a two-day recess with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram. Rejecting the notion that jute and jute goods have lost their past glory, Muktadir said such an assumption is inconsistent with reality, as global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development has significantly increased demand for jute as a natural and biodegradable fiber. He said new prospects have emerged in the international market for jute and jute products, particularly amid growing preference for environment-friendly alternatives to plastic. “As one of the world’s leading jute-producing countries, Bangladesh has been undertaking multifaceted initiatives to capitalise on this opportunity,” he said. Highlighting government steps to develop the sector, the minister said jute mills in the country are striving to meet both international and domestic demand according to their existing capacities. To expand the use of jute goods in the domestic market, he said, the government has taken steps to effectively implement the Mandatory Use of Jute Packaging Act, 2010. So, the use of jute packaging in wrapping certain products has increased, significantly expanding domestic demand, he added. The minister said the government is continuing various policy supports to boost production capacity of jute mills and ensure product quality and diversification. In this regard, regular dialogues and consultation meetings are being held with the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association and Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association to identify problems, challenges and prospects and determine necessary actions. Muktadir also said initiatives have been taken to update the Jute Act, 2017 and the National Jute Policy, 2018 in a timely manner to make the sector more competitive and sustainably developed in line with changing global markets and technological advancements.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Thursday said the government has decided to reopen six of the closed state-owned jute mills under private management within the next six months. He made the announcement at a press conference held at the ministry following an urgent meeting with stakeholders on reopening and leasing out closed mills under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute. The minister said the remaining closed jute mills will also be gradually reopened or leased out in phases. State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam, Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, popularly known as Ashik Chowdhury, the ministry’s secretary, and senior officials of Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) and other agencies concerned were present at the meeting. Muktadir said the initiative is expected to boost investment, increase exports and generate employment in the sector.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Thursday said Bangladesh exported raw jute to 30 countries and jute goods to 138 nations during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 fiscal years. In response to a query from ruling party lawmaker from Khulna-5 Mohammad Ali Asgar, he provided a detailed breakdown of the sector's export performance. The minister noted that raw jute was exported to several major markets, including China, Iran, Spain, Belgium, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Denmark, Switzerland, South Korea, Russia, Poland, Vietnam, Nepal, Tunisia, Thailand, Malaysia, Austria, France, Latvia, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. According to the minister, raw jute exports totalled 42,039 metric tons in the 2024-25 financial year. Between July and February of the 2025-26 fiscal year, the export volume stood at 22,850 metric tons. Regarding jute products, Muktadir said Bangladesh currently exports to 138 countries. Major destinations include China, Iran, Spain, Belgium, the USA, the UK, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Turkey, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Jordan, India, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Australia, Libya, Denmark, Brazil, Switzerland, Hungary, South Korea, South Africa, Chile, Romania, Canada, Peru, Sri Lanka, Russia, Poland, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, and Thailand. The export volume of jute products reached 7,51,739 metric tons in the 2024-25 financial year. For the 2025-26 fiscal year, the volume recorded from July to February was 4,09,366 metric tons.

Textiles and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak has said the government will formulate and implement an action plan to double the export income from jute goods in the next 2-3 years. “Bangladesh is exporting jute products worth an average of US$ one billion every year. We want to increase the export income of jute goods to US$ 2 billion in the next 2-3 years. I will formulate and implement the action plan with that goal,” he said. Submit a list of patients died at United Hospital due to negligence in last 15 years: HC The minister made this remark at a press conference at the EPB (Export Promotion Bureau) booth set up in Frankfurt, Germany on Saturday, said a PID handout here on Sunday. Nanak said Bangladesh is the world's second largest garment exporter. Garment is the main export product of Bangladesh, he said. He said a huge demand has been created worldwide for Bangladeshi garments. Germany is the second destination of export products as Bangladesh exports different goods worth some 7 billion US dollars every year. COVID-19: Bangladesh reports 35 more cases in 24hrs Some 90 percent of the goods are garment products, he added. The minister said initiatives will be taken to increase the export of diversified jute products to reduce dependency only on garment products as export products. He said Bangladesh is the 2nd largest jute producing country in the world and quality jute is produced in The county. “Bangladeshi entrepreneurs are producing 282 types of jute products, which are exported to 135 countries of the world,” said the minister. 25 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, Executive Director of Jute Diversification Promotion Center Gopal Chandra Das were present at the press conference.

Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi has said effective steps are being taken to reopen the state-owned jute mills that were closed down last year soon. The mills would be reopened under private management on lease basis. The minister also added that international tenders have already been called in this regard. He came up with these remarks while speaking to the press after joining the monthly coordination meeting of the ministry online on Wednesday afternoon. The minister claimed that  jute farmers are currently  getting a fair price for raw jute as the value and demand of jute has increased across the world. The average price of raw jute in the current jute season is up to Tk 3,000, which is about 50 percent higher than last year, he added. He also said that Bangladesh earned $953.56 million by exporting jute and jute-made products in  the first nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal year 2020-21, which  is 22.94 percent more than the same period last year. The growth is also around 10.64 percent higher than the target, the minister said. He hoped that not only would the old workers be rehabilitated, but also new employment opportunities will be created once these privately run mills become operational. On July 1 last year, 25 jute mills under the control of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) were declared closed with the aim of creating a competitive environment in the jute sector.

The minister confirmed it at a press conference at the secretariat over paying the dues of the retired workers and others who lost their jobs. “To pay the arrears of workers of eight jute mills, we’ve got Tk 1,790.52 crore from t

State owned Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) will be halting operations to stop piling up losses, said Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi on Sunday.

The government will honour eleven individuals and institutions on Friday for their outstanding contributions in promoting jute sector of the country.