Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui yesterday said initiatives have been taken to revitalize and rejuvenate the state owned jute mills.

“We are taking necessary measures to bring the jute mills to a break even point within coming two years to avoid further recurrence of losses by the state owned jute mills,” he said while exchanging views with journalists at the conference room of the Press Information Department (PID).

“The jute sector should be given proper attention as the livelihood of nearly 4 crore people are involved in the sector. We have fixed the rate of different categories of jute at Tk 1000, Tk 1200 and Tk 1610 for promotion of jute sector,” he added.

Regarding the compensation of jute mills workers, who have lost their jobs during the four-party alliance government, he said, ” We have, so far, disbursed Tk 100 crore to the workers and would provide rest of the amount Tk 500 crore gradually”.

The jute minister said there is great opportunity for exporting diversified ‘golden fiber jute’ products as the demand of synthetic products are on decline in different countries of the world.

He said there was a conspiracy to destroy the country’s jute mills who worked so that the sector cannot flourish.

“The post 1975 governments have destroyed the jute sector, once considered the most important sector for earning foreign exchange of the country,” he recalled.

Responding to a question on all pervasive corruption in the jute sector, he said corruption has been reduced since he has assumed the responsibility of the ministry. Latif Siddiqui said quality of seeds and skilled manpower were needed to develop the jute sector.

He said the government would decider whether it would be possible to reopen Adamjee Jute Mills. ” I would not accept any suggestion of the World Bank for the jute sector if it goes against the country’s interest,” he asserted.

“It is a matter of regret that the Jatiya Press Club did not arrange any programme on the occasion of National Mourning Day on August 15,1975. I do not think there is any war criminal in the country but liberation war criminals are there in the country,” he said while expressing his views on it.

He said, ” Those who create controversy on Bangabandhu are anti liberation forces. We would mobilise public opinion to stop such move”.