Nilphamari textile mill likely to reopen within 3 months: State minister

State minister for textiles and jute, Md Shariful Alam, yesterday (12 April) said the long-shut Darwani Textile Mill in Nilphamari is likely to reopen within the next two to three months, raising hopes for local employment.

"An international tender has already been floated for the Darwani Textile Mill in Nilphamari, and potential investors are showing interest. We expect that the mill will be reopened within two to three months, which will generate employment for local residents," he said.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after visiting textile mills in Dinajpur and Nilphamari, according to a PID handout issued today (13 April).

The state minister said initiatives have been taken in line with the prime minister's election manifesto to reopen closed jute and textile mills across the country.

He said reopening idle industrial units is one of the government's election pledges, and the Textiles and Jute Ministry is working to revive long-closed mills.

Shariful Alam also said a textile mill in Dinajpur will be reopened soon.

Referring to jute as the "golden fibre", he said efforts are underway to restore its past glory. "We must work to bring back the golden days of jute," he said, adding that steps are being taken to ensure fair prices for farmers.

He said the government has taken initiatives to raise public awareness about using jute products as an alternative to plastic.

During the visit, Nilphamari-2 lawmaker Al Faruq Abdul Latif and Textiles and Jute Secretary Bilquis Jahan Rimi, among others, were present.

Later, the state minister visited a handicraft and cottage industry unit, Classical Handmade Products BD Limited, at Hajiganj in Gorgram union of Nilphamari Sadar upazila.