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Thakurgaon Silk Factory likely to reopen after 19 years


Published : 29 Oct 2020 08:32 PM | Updated : 30 Oct 2020 08:05 AM

The Thakurgaon Silk Factory, which was laid down by the government on the pretext of losses, has been closed for 19 long years. Visiting the Thakurgaon silk factory, it is seen that various doors and windows including the walls of the factory have been broken for a long time due to unused and lack of repairs. Necessary items including machines are lying in useless condition.

According to the District Silk Board, the Thakurgaon Silk Factory was declared closed in December 2001 during the then four-party coalition government on the pretext of losses. It has not been launched since then. As a result, 134 workers of the factory and about 10 thousand silk farmers became unemployed.

However, even after modernization, installation and expansion of new equipment by BMRE, the factory was shut down and valuable equipment worth crores of rupees is on the way to rust.

The factory incurred a loss of Tk 65 million in 26 years due to obsolete equipment. The authorities closed the factory in 2001 on the pretext of losses. As a result, 134 workers and about 10,000 local silk farmers became unemployed.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Silk Board Mu Abdul Hakim inspected the closed silk factory on October 12. During the inspection, the director general said that a 9-member technical committee has been formed to revive the factory. This committee will examine and prepare an estimate. The factory will be re-opened by inviting tenders on the basis of that estimate.

Deputy Commissioner Dr KM Kamruzzaman Selim, Additional Deputy Commissioner Nur Qutbul Alam, Executive Engineer of Nesco Limited Sarwar Hossain and others were present on the occasion.

Sultan Ali, Assistant Director, Thakurgaon Silk Board, said, "Once the factory is up and running, the silk farmers involved in silk farming will get re-employment opportunities." It is better to reopen the factory immediately thinking of the workers and farmers.

Thakurgaon Deputy Commi­ssioner Dr KM Kamruzzaman Selim said the idea of starting the silk factory is underway. Hopefully, the factory will be commissioned early next year (January). We think that if it is introduced, there will be employment opportunities for people in this district.