PM orders to reopen sick, closed industries

“The Prime Minister has directed the ministries concerned to take steps to reopen the sick and closed industrial institutions,” Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said today.

However, he said, how private entrepreneurs will be involved in the initiative and what the nature of ownership or partnership will be have not yet been finalized.

Reopening sick and closed industrial establishments to create employment was one of the BNP’s election pledges.

According to the Prime Minister’s directive, sick and closed jute mills and sugar mills will be reopened, retaining former workers in their jobs and creating new employment opportunities there.

As per the information placed before the parliament in June 2024 during the previous Awami League government, the number of closed industrial institutions under the Ministry of Industries was 397 at that time.

Of these, 382 sick/closed industries were under Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), five under BCIC, six sugar mills under BSFIC and four factories under BSEC.

Over the past two years, the number has increased further. However, no updated statistics have been published by the government.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun said, “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has instructed to create new jobs”.

He also asked to take initiatives to reopen closed and sick industrial factories, the BIDA chief said, adding, in this regard, a committee led by the Ministry of Industries has already started working, reports BSS.