The minister said this at a views exchange meeting on the activities of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and its subordinate departments at his office after the Eid-ul-Azha holiday.

He said the incumbent government is trying to solve all problems in the jute sector. It is also trying to ensure fair pricing, SMS-based jute buying and selling system, increasing production and diversifying jute products, incentives for export of jute goods and increasing domestic use.

The government will also provide all possible assistance for the expansion of jute industry besides motivating farmers considering the demand in the domestic and international markets, he said.

The minister said that in view of the present market and future prospects of diversified jute products, the government is working to re-open the closed mills under the BJMC on an urgent basis by modernising and restructuring the production system.

Country’s jute mills will be brought back to production as soon as possible through government-controlled public-private partnership (PPP), joint venture G2G or lease model. Two high-level committees have already been set up to make recommendations on modernisation and reactivation of mills in a proper manner and rationalisation in light of the changed situation of BJMC’s manpower structure, he said.

He said all the relevant provisions of the Labor Act have been followed while declaring termination of employment of workers and closure of jute mills.

As the employment of the workers has been terminated from July 1, according to the provisions of the Labor Act, they have no claim or dues after the seventh day except for the wages of 60-day notice period, said the minister.

Gazi had announced closure of 25 mills under BJMC on June 28. All workers were released with ‘golden handshakes’.