RAJSHAHI, Feb 14, 2019 (BSS) – Production in Rajshahi Silk Factory has
been resumed after around 16 years of interception creating a high hope among
all concerned particularly labourers here.
Currently, the factory is operating six looms on trial basis which has,
so far, produced 2,600 yards of silk clothes. Step has been taken to make
five more looms fit for functional. It is expected that the looms will go on
operation within next one month.
The observation came in a discussion at conference hall of Bangladesh
Sericulture Research and Training Institute (BSRTI) in Rajshahi city
yesterday.
Bangladesh Silk Development Board (BSDB) organized the meeting attended by
Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation AHM Khairuzzaman Liton and Chairman of
Zila Parishad Muhammad Ali Sarker as chief and special guest respectively.
Chaired by BSDB Director General Abdul Hakim, the meeting was addressed,
among others, by its Members Syeda Zebinnissa Sultana, Abdul Mannan and
Nasima Khatun, Secretary Jayedul Islam and Chief Extension Officer Rabiul
Islam and BSRTI Director Monsur Ali. On the occasion, they also visited the
factory and BSRTI.
Mayor Liton expressed hope that the defunct factory would resume its function
in full-length as soon as possible.
“We are pledged bound to revive the lost glory of silk,” he said adding
that when all the 63 looms will go into operation 2.87 lakh meters silk
clothes will be produced every year.
He said BSDB has already allocated Taka 32-crore project for boosting
silk production and mulberry farming.
Mayor Liton said closure of the mill was very much unfortunate for
people of the area.
People of the city are struggling for a long demanding reopening of the
mill. Besides, he said many people of the region will be employed here after
reopening of the mill.
Simultaneously, a model factory will be set up at adjacent to BSRTI here
as an exhibit so that people visiting here from outside could get a real
picture of Rajshahi silk.
The factory was commissioned on 15.5 bighas of land in city’s Seroil
area in 1961.
In 1996, the then Awami League government modernised the factory through
adding modern machines at a cost of around Taka 10 crore and restarted it
partially subsequently.
But, the then BNP-led four-party alliance government declared the
factory lay off in the name of continuous loss on November 30, 2002.