The government has agreed to lease three closed state-owned jute mills to two private companies with the aim of reopening those.
The agreements to this effect were signed between the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), PRAN-RFL Group and Hamco Group in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday.
Under the agreements, PRAN-RFL Group will lease the National Jute Mills Limited in Sirajganj and Star Jute Mills Limited in Khulna.
Hamco Group will lease Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills Limited.
On behalf of BJMC, its Chairman Brigadier General Md Kabir Uddin Sikder signed the agreement.
Company Secretary Aminur Rahman signed on behalf of PRAN-RFL Group, while Managing Director ATM Mostafa signed on behalf of Hamco Group.
Under the agreements, the three mills, which have remained closed for a long time, will be reopened under private management.
Once the three mills resume operations, they will create employment for at least 11,629 people and around 619 crore takas will be invested.
The companies are expected to have a combined annual turnover of around 1,175 crore takas.
It was announced at the event that around 157 crore takas is planned to be invested in National Jute Mills in Raipur, Sirajganj.
Once the mill resumes operations, it will create employment for 5,238 people and its annual turnover could be around 500 crore takas.
Around 250 crore takas will be invested in Star Jute Mills in Dighalia, Khulna.
Once the mill resumes operations, it will create employment for 5,238 people. It has set a target of annual turnover of around 500 crore takas.
Meanwhile, around 212 crore takas are planned to be invested in Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills in Khalishpur, Khulna.
The mill is expected to create employment for at least 1,153 people, with a turnover potential of 175 crore takas.
It was announced at the event that out of 25 BJMC mills that have halted production, a decision has been taken to reopen 20 under private management on a lease basis.
So far, leases for 14 mills have been completed and possession has been handed over to the lessees, with production having started at nine of them.