ZCZC
BSS-12
PM-JUTE DAY 2 LAST DHAKA
Referring to her government’s various steps
for development of the jute sector, the prime
minister said the fate of the people,
particularly farmers, is linked with it.
She said the jute mill owners who were once
frustrated are now feel encouraged due to the
pragmatic measures of the government.
“We want the golden days of Golden Fiber be
brought back and more entrepreneurs come
forward to this end,” she said, adding: “We
could earn more foreign currencies and increase
employment through it.”
The premier put emphasis on fixing the
quantity of the jute production by determining
the demand so that farmers and manufacturers do
not count any losses.
“We have previously noticed that farmers
faced losses as a result of too much production
of jute. On the other hand, we also witnessed
at other times, too less production hampered
the manufacturing of jute products,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this means that demand
should dictate the quantity of production and
this will ensure that neither farmers nor
manufacturers face any losses.
The prime minister laid importance on
focusing more on the diverse usage of jute and
conducting more research on it.
“As the second largest jute producing country
in the world, we have to focus more on the
diverse usage of jute. We also need to invest
more in the research of this sector and tap
into more export markets for the fiber,” she
said.
Now the golden days of jute are making a
comeback, she said, adding more and more people
around the world are becoming aware of the
environmental concerns involved with the use of
artificial fibers and opting for natural fibers
such as jute.
The prime minister urged the investors from
home and abroad to set up product-specific
industrial areas or special zones for
development and expansion of jute products.
“We’ve formulated the Export Policy 2018-2021
and in the light of this, we invite investors
from home and abroad to invest more in setting
up product-specific industrial areas or special
zones so that we can develop the jute sector
further and tap into a plethora of new export
markets,” she said.
Placing emphasis on branding the “Golden Fiber”
globally, Sheikh Hasina said there is now a
growing demand for eco-friendly jute and jute
products as a result of heightened awareness
about environmental issues.
“By extending the cultivation of jute and
usage of jute products, we can play an
important role in this environmental movement,”
she said.
The premier said recently, the method to
produce jute polymer from jute has been
discovered.
“This is being used to create an alternative
to plastic bags known as ‘Golden Bags’ and I
urge all concerned to help expedite the wider
usage of Golden Bags,” she said.
The prime minister said the people of the
country struggled for eras for fair prices of
jute.
“Bangabandhu incorporated the demand for fair
prices of jute in his all movements including
the Language Movement and 1954 Juktofront’s
polls,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said jute was also a major
issue in Bangladesh Awami League’s 1970
election manifesto.
In the post-independence Bangladesh, she said,
90 percent of the country’s foreign earnings
came from the jute sector.
However, the sector faced a crisis period
partly due to the advent of artificial fibers
and the step-motherly attitude to the sector by
the military dictators who grabbed power
illegally after Bangabandhu’s assassination,
she said.
For increasing production and internal usage,
ensuring fair prices and preserving the
environment, the premier said her government
has formulated the “Mandatory Jute Packaging
Act, 2010” and “Mandatory Jute Packaging Rules,
2013”.
“Our government has also made mandatory the
use of jute in packaging for 19 items,
including paddy, rice, wheat, maize,
fertilizer, sugar, spices etc,” she said.
By the implementation of this law, Sheikh
Hasina said, the internal demand of jute sacks
per year has been increased by nearly 150 crore
units.
“To diversify the eco-friendly jute products,
the government has established the Jute
Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC),” she
said.
The prime minister said apart from the
traditional products such as thread, sacks,
bags and carpets, jute is now being used for
the production of fabrics, cushion covers,
carpets, sarees etc.
Sheikh Hasina said winter clothes are also
being produced by mixing jute with wool. Jute
crust is being used to produce high quality
carbon while Jute stalks can also be used for
producing toiletries, medicine, paint etc, she
said.
The premier said the National Jute Day is
being celebrated for the third time aimed at
promoting and flourishing the jute sector in an
integrated manner.
“On this special day, I congratulate all
involved with the cultivation, production,
marketing and use of jute and jute products,”
she said.
At the function, the prime minister handed
over awards to 14 individuals and organisations
for their contributions to developing the jute
sector.
Later, she opened the Diversified Jute
Products Fair on the BICC premises and visited
different stalls of the fair.
BSS/SH/GMR/1420 hrs