Industries and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Saturday said the current government is determined to reopen the closed state-owned sugar mills.

“But in this (reopening) process, decisions will be made with utmost importance to the factors – the interests of sugarcane farmers and workers, and the long-term profitable operation of the mills,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a view-exchange meeting with sugarcane farmers, arranged by Panchagarh Sugar Mills Limited in Panchagarh, said a PID handout.

He said the mills are assets of the people of Bangladesh. "So, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure effective operation of the mills," he said.

“We want closed industrial mills and factories to return to production, create jobs, and bring new momentum to the local economy,” Muktadir added.

He said several sugar mills are now out of production, while many operational ones are facing various limitations.

The minister pointed out that most of these mills are 50 to 70 years old, making effective revival difficult without modernisation, renovation, and the integration of new technology.

He said some sugar mills would need to be restarted by installing new machinery, others require structural reforms, and even in the case of some mills, alternative plans must be considered.

“However, in all cases, the interests of sugarcane farmers, employment for workers, and profitable management will be ensured,” Muktadir said.

He said the reopening of the closed mills is crucial for the country’s overall economic activity and poverty reduction.

Panchagarh Sugar Mills Limited was established between 1966 and 1969 with a daily crushing capacity of 1,016 metric tons. It had gone into final production in the 1969-70 fiscal year and currently operates under the BSFIC.

Barrister Nawshad Zamir, MP for Panchagarh-1, and Industries Secretary Obaidur Rahman also spoke at the event presided over by Chairman of the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) Jahangir Alam.