BSCIC generates employment for 14,825 people in Rajshahi

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RAJSHAHI, Dec 27, 2018 (BSS)-The industrial estate of Bangladesh Small and
Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) in Rajshahi has generated employment
opportunities for more than 14,825 people in various trades in the last 10
years.

The people got the jobs in various fields like enterprise development,
skill development and training, industry ownership transfer and establishment
of new industries.

“We are going to create jobs for more 15,000 people in next five years,”
said Tamanna Rahman, deputy general manager of BSCIC, while talking to BSS
here Wednesday.

She said, in the last 10 years, 3,530 peopled were imparted
entrepreneurship development and skill development training on
entrepreneurship development and employment generation.

“We have extended support to 1,250 entrepreneurs in getting industrial
loans of Taka 76.96 crore,” Rahman said adding that registration was given to
275 industries.

Investment around Taka 26.84 crore was done in 45 industries through
ownership transfer.

After getting training, many women have got the chance of attaining self-
reliance together with employing their near and dear ones in income-
generating activities through operating boutique houses in the city and its
outskirts.

Some of the beneficiaries termed the venture effective means of women
empowerment.

Amena Begum, owner of Maisha Boutique and Fashion House at Upashahar
Koyerdara in the city, narrated her success story.

She supplies goods of order to different parts of the country successfully.
More than 100 women coming from underprivileged and disadvantaged families
are working with her industry as labourers.

“We supply our finished goods to more than 14-15 districts including
Dhaka,” said Tahmina Akhter Minu, owner of Minu Boutique House in Shapura
area.

She is satisfied with her business that generates employment of around 50
women.

Meanwhile, the BSCIC industrial estate has started making profit with
investment by some of the country’s big companies.

Companies like Abul Khair Group, Pran Agro Limited and Nitol Group have
launched industries. The sick and laid off industries are gradually being
replaced with new viable ones.

“The sick industry owners will either restart their businesses or transfer
possession of their units,” said Tamanna Rahman adding that creation of new
estates became a necessity to meet the local demand.

Most of the industrial units have become profitable over the last couple of
years as the local entrepreneurs have been showing keen interest in
restarting the sick industries and operating their business successfully
after transferring ownership.

The 325-plot BSCIC industrial estate, established in 1961 on 95.71 acres on
the city’s outskirts, has been providing electricity, water supply, security,
road and drainage facilities to the entrepreneurs for running their business.

Several silk-clothes manufacturing units earned reputation for their
quality products. They expect that there would be no more sick industry in
the estate, the officials said.

Terming the BSCIC industrial area viable for any small and medium industry,
Liakat Ali, president of Bangladesh Silk Industries Owners Association, said
the entrepreneurs are making profit and demanding uninterrupted power and gas
supply to the BSCIC to reduce production costs.

He stressed the need for taking necessary steps to formulate a separate
industrial friendly policy for the country’s northwest region, checking
smuggling of Indian goods, providing gas connection to the industrial units
and bank loans at low interest rates for making these industries more
profitable and sustainable.