A high priority feasibility study for commercial production of viscose from raw jute is underway to meet the growing demand for cotton.Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation said that the semi-synthetic fiber could be a substitute of cotton.On completion of initial feasibility studies by local experts raw jute was sent to Finland and Sweden for further feasibility studies by Finnish and Swedish institutions for its possible use for viscose production, BJMC officials told New Age.Bangladesh being the largest importer of cotton its substitute could be very useful for the textile mills, they said.BJMC Chairman Md Mahmudul Hassan told New Age Tuesday that three specialized Scandinavian firms had been selected for holding a four-month feasibility study on the matter.He said viscose yarns are soft, strong, bright and of highly quality.He said about 65 per cent cellulose content in jute plants was the basic ingredient of viscose.He said that the prime minister being highly impressed over the local feasibility studies’ findings asked BJMC to arrange further feasibility studies.A positive outcome would help Bangladesh save foreign exchange equivalent to Tk 1,000 crore annually now spent for cotton imports, said the BJMC chairman.He said that the Scandinavian institutions were expected to complete their feasibility studies and submit the reports in three months.In 2015, the BJMC first got the idea of producing viscose from jute and in the next year an expert committee led by then BJMC director Babul Chandra Roy was asked to hold a feasibility study on the issue.Officials said that the government selected Finland’s Vision Hunter Limited and SYTECH Company Limited and their associate institution AF, a Swedish engineering and design company for holding feasibility studies including designing viscose factories.Babul currently adviser of BJMC’s viscose project told New Age that cellulose a basic component in green jute plants is the main element of viscose.Bangladesh annually produces 1.50 lakh bales of cotton against the demand of 55 lakh bales, according to the Cotton Development Board.
