Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar today spoke at the first meeting of the National Salt Mahal Management Committee in the meeting room of the Ministry of Land. Photo : PID

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar today said in view of the increase in salt production costs, labour costs and transportation costs in recent years, the lease price of the salt fields will not be increased. 

He said tens of thousands of people in the vast areas of Cox's Bazar, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, Chattogram and Satkhira are directly and indirectly involved in salt sector.

"Human labour is essential in every step of salt production, from land preparation to salt collection and storage. There is a huge employment opportunity in this sector, which plays a major role in the livelihood of the rural poor," he said.

The land adviser made the remarks at the first meeting of the National Salt Mahal Management Committee in the meeting room of the Ministry of Land here, a handout said.

Because of not increasing the lease price of the salt fields (mahals), it will be easier to maintain production continuity, ensure supply in the market and maintain its price stability, Ali Imam said.

He said if there are complications in the lease process, influence of middlemen and lack of monitoring at the field level, farmers will not get the expected benefits. 

"As the demand for salt increases in the country, the production area needs to be expanded," he said, adding that a vast area of char has emerged in Bhashanchar where salt fields can be created. 

There is enough space to create more salt fields in Banshkhali and Cox's Bazar in Chattogram, the land adviser said.

Noting that salt is an essential ingredient in the daily food list, he said it is a seasonal industry, while its production starts in November and stops during the monsoon. 

The need to make all-out efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in slat production in the national interest is undeniable, Ali Imam said. 

He said there is a tendency of unreasonable increase in salami prices in the case of lease or renewal of privately owned salt fields, which is a matter of deep concern for this sector and this is not acceptable in any way.

"In this case, if a rational lease price is not followed, the development tax on those lands will be increased," the land adviser said.

Salt is being cultivated on 69,198 acres of land across the country, while 42,000 farmers are directly involved in the sector. There are 12 salt centres and 230 salt mills where salt is refined. 

In the fiscal 2024-2025, the sector-wise demand for salt was: edible salt 8.85 lakh metric tonnes, industrial sector 8.92 lakh metric tonnes, fisheries sector 0.39 lakh metric tonnes and livestock sector 3.50 lakh metric tonnes. 

Total refined salt demand is 21.67 lakh metric tonnes, while unrefined salt demand is 26.10 lakh metric tonnes. Salt production per acre is 32.54 metric tonnes. Salt production cost per kg is Taka 8.29.

Moderated by Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Land ASM Saleh Ahmed, the meeting was attended by BSCIC Chairman Md Saiful Islam, representatives of different ministries, and the additional divisional commissioner of Chattogram and the deputy commissioners of Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.