16 BTMC mills to go under Public Private Partnership: Nanak

Textile industry in Bangladesh. Wikipedia.

Dhaka, Feb 15 - Minister of Textiles and Jute Jahangir Kabir Nanak on Thursday said approval has been given to put under Public Private Partnership (PPP) of 16 BTMC textile mills out of 25.

“Two of these contracts have been completed while two contracts are in final stages,” he said in Parliament while answering to a question of ruling party MP elected from Laxmipur Anwar Hossain Khan.

He also mentioned that at present there are 900 private textile mills in the country.

The minister also said that all the textile products needed in the country are produced in the country.

The Textiles and Jute Minister that the annual demand for textiles in the local market is about 7 million metres.

He said that in terms of export of readymade garments, the demand for woven and denim fabrics is 8 billion metres. Of this, 4 billion metres are produced in the country while 4 billion metres are imported.

In response to Awami League MP elected from Bhola Nurunnabi Chowdhury, the minister said that there are about 50 lakh workers working in the private garment sector in the country.

“Some 15 lakh weavers are engaged in the textile industry in the country. Of this, about 9 lakhs are directly employed and 6 lakhs are indirectly.” - UNB