The government has taken up a plan to run and modernise eight closed textile mills under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) in joint-venture with local and foreign entrepreneurs. Textiles and Jute Minister Muhammad Imazuddin Pramanik told the House on Monday while replying to a query raised by treasury bench member Md Tazul Islam from Comilla, reports BSS. The textile mills include Ahmed Bawani Textile Mills, Demra, Dhaka, Dinajpur Textiles Mills, Sadarpur, Dinajpur, Dost Textiles Mills, Ranirhat, Feni, Tangail Textile Mills, Tangail, Darwani Textile Mills, Nilphamari, RR Textile Mills, Sitakundu, Chittagong, Quaderia Textile Mills, Tongi, Gazipur and Chittaranjan Cotton Mills, Godnail, Narayanganj. Imazuddin Pramanik also said that six BTMC-run mills are now operational on the basis of service charge, while steps are being taken to operate the remaining mills under the same system. He said the government is going to frame the Textile Industry Law, 2015 for smooth management of all activities related to the textile industry alongside taking various measures for modernisation of the textile industry. He also said that projects have been undertaken to establish textile vocational institutes, diploma institutes and BSC textile engineering colleges to create skilled manpower in the textile industry. Besides, the minister told the House proper initiatives have been undertaken for modernisation of the existing textile educational institutions across the country. He said facilities for importing tax-free equipment for compliance purposes are being offered to build textile industries following the safety standards according to the demand of local and foreign buyers. Mr Pramanik said special economic zones are being established in different places of the country, while diplomatic ties with different countries are being strengthened for expanding the textile industry as well as export markets.
