ZCZC
BSS–18
BJA-JUTE-DEMAND
BJA for not imposing tariff on raw jute export
KHULNA, Aug 30, 2020 (BSS) – Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) here today (Sunday) demanded not imposing tariff on raw jute export to ensure the country’s huge foreign currency earnings from raw jute export.
Chairman of BJA Sheikh Sayed Ali made the demand at a press conference held at the journalist Humayun Kabir Balu auditorium at Khulna Press Club (KPC).
He also demanded share of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced financial incentive and export subsidies for raw jute during coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
He said Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association is trying with evil intension to stop raw jute export by submitting recommendations to impose tariff of Taka 800 for each maund jute export to the Textile and Jute Ministry giving wrong information of jute crisis.
During the conference, Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque urged the government to consider BJA’s demand, ignoring Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association’s recommendation which was submitted to the Jute and Textile Ministry recently.
The government is working tirelessly for the wellbeing of all sectors including jute industries, the mayor said, adding all state-run jute mills will resume operation under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with modern machineries as well as skilled manpower to recoup losses of country’s jute sector.
Presenting statistics of the Directorate of Jute, BJA chairman Sheikh Sayed Ali said the government has targeted to produce 92.38 lakh bells jute in the 2020-2021 fiscal year (FY).
Later, the production target was revised to 84.14 bells due to ongoing flood, he said, adding the country’s internal raw jute demand is at least 55 lakh bells a year, on which state-owned jute mills require 13 lakh bells while private jute and spinning jute mills demand around 42 lakh bells.
He, however, said that now the country’s internal demand of raw jute is maximum 45 lakh bells as the state-run jute mills are closed.
BSS/ZH/GA/1654 hrs