Govt will now purchase all jute luggage from private sources
The government has made a decision to buy 50 % of jute bags and sacks from private companies and the others from traders following closure of the mills beneath the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC).
The textiles and jute ministry issued a circular to the effect on December 6.
In January 2014, the government had made it mandatory to source one half of the jute bags and sacks for the packaging of paddy, rice, wheat and fertiliser from the jute mills run by the BJMC and the others from private sources. However the government shut each of the 25 jute mills of the BJMC in July to remove continuous losses. The organization used to provide half of the jute hand bags and sacks employed by the food section and the Bangladesh Chemical substance Industries Corporation.
The latest decision came at a gathering at the textiles and jute ministry on December 2. Lokman Hossain Miah, textiles and jute secretary, presided over the conference.
The government purchases bags and sacks from manufacturers and traders. Due to this fact, it has become tricky to ensure the caliber of the multitude of sacks staying bought, explained a representative from the Central Procurement Complex Unit (CPTU), based on the meeting minutes.
The representative said half of the sacks could possibly be bought from suppliers, and the rest from the traders.
It isn't possible to get sacks from the makers alone according to the purchase of the textiles and jute ministry, said a good food ministry representative.
Numerous officials at the assembly had called for amending the circular.
The textiles and jute secretary also backed the opinion of the CPTU.
"This will ensure the interests of the manufacturers and traders," he said.
In line with the Mandatory Jute Packaging Action 2010, which came into impact in 2014, jute handbags and sacks must be used designed for the product packaging of 19 grains and items such as for example rice, paddy, wheat, maize, fertiliser, sugar, chilli, turmeric, onion, garlic, ginger, lentil, potato, coriander, flour, coarse flour, poultry and fish feeds.
In Bangladesh, the gross annual demand for jute bags and sacks is 195.65 crore pieces, the jute department explained.
