Looking back to the golden fibre

Tithe Farhana

Before the partition of the Indian subcontinent, British jute traders made good use of raw jute. Jute industry took a new historic turn towards further expansion after the creation of Pakistan in 1947. But it was mostly controlled and guided by the West Pakistan rulers to amass economic benefits for West Pakistan at the cost of poor Bangalis (then East Pakistanis). They established Asia's largest jute mill, the Adamjee Jute Mill, in Narayanganj in the fifties. Soon it attracted world attention for its high quality of jute products.
   The Pakistani rulers made best use of jute. to earn the “golden” returns from the foreign exchange earned by exporting jute products. After limping like sick industry about three decades, the Adamjee Mill was closed down forever. One writer notes, “Many of our rivals in the field must have their last and best laugh as they were eagerly waiting for this fateful day! The vast area of Adamjee Jute Mill is now a property of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA).
   Jute fibres obtained from the jute plant were used to manufacture sackcloth and rope. Its fibres are now being used not only for making sacks, but for textile products for diverse end-uses. Four decades back the fibre obtained from jute was called the golden fibre of Bangladesh because it was the main foreign exchange earner. It is a type of plant fibre used to make common items such as carpet, mattress, rope, twine, chair coverings, curtains, sacks, hessian cloth etc. This is accomplished by spinning the fibre into a coarse thread. Jute is increasingly being looked at as an alternative source for making paper, rather than cutting down trees for pulp.The thread made from jute is strong, yet it is among the cheapest of natural fibres.
   After partition, the government realised that it would be better to add value to the fibre and export jute goods to earn foreign exchange instead of exporting only the fibres. As such, the government began to promote setting up of jute mills in this part of the country as far back as 1951. thus Jute manufacturing sector is long-established manufacturing sectors of Bangladesh, which materialized in former East Pakistan in the early 1950s. Major share of the manufacturing sector in National income and generating employment was reported by this sector during the1960s and 1970s. During the1960s exports of jute and jute goods were the two most important sources of foreign exchange of Pakistan.
   Five major drawbacks persist in the jute sector: Unavailability of varieties of jute seed, absenteeism of mechanization, inconsistent policy on private sector, Inadequate R & D facilities at both public and private levels, continued financial crisis in the public sector jute mills and lakh of coordination between public and private sector.
   The United Nations (UN) declared 2009 as the 'Year of Natural Fiber' in order to popularize the use of natural fibers in manufacturing goods and consumers of developed countries are interest about buying more environment-friendly products. Bangladesh Jute Association, 88 per cent of the total export goes to China, Pakistan and India. Nazmul Huq pronounced on BJMA's jute production of 2009 was 1 lakh 20 thousand ton and expecting this would be increased to 1.5 lakh ton in 2010.
   Bangladesh and India have started a long-term project for researching and developing jute-based geotextiles, which will potentially prevent soil erosion and help the roads to last for a longer time.

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Holiday Desk

Speakers at an academic program of IUBAT described the university as a place of convergence of old and new scholars to conceive new thoughts and ideas of professionalism and to act as mentor for delivering appropriate sense of direction needed in the society to march ahead, says a press release.
   Pivotal role of universities in comprehensive manpower development and capacity building efforts for acquiring IT expertise is essential to help grooming intellectual capabilities to facilitate pace of development, they visualized.
   The closing ceremony of Fortnight Program marked the 18th Foundation Day and 53rd orientation for spring semester of International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT) at its permanent Uttara Campus.
   Presided by Prof. Dr. M. Alimullah Miyan, IUBAT Vice Chancellor, Chairs and Coordinators of interdepartmental programs in their speech highlighted academic achievements and practical facilities and pledged to contribute higher education enabling their graduates to face challenges of the new millennium. They welcomed the freshmen and advised them to take advantage of IUBAT's world class academic curricula, methodology of teaching and excellent environment. Sayeda Ajanta Israt, Faculty, Department of Economics delivered address of welcome at the orientation.
   Prof. Dr. M. Alimullah Miyan, alleged that only 20 percent from affluent class enjoy 80 percent resource allocated for academic sector in national budget. He said IUBAT's specific pledge “not to refuge any one who don't have the financial ability to pursue higher education' is substantiated by “Knowledge Based Area Development (KBAD)” program. The talented students from poorer section may avail the existing facility under the program for access to higher education, he added.
   Prof. Miyan said the proposed Private University Bill-2009, if passed, will destroy the fundamental philosophy of Non-government University as contained in Private University Act 1992 and amended Act 1998 and therefore will frustrate the growth of private sector universities in the country.
   Drs Gerard from Tilburg University, Netherlands and Dr. Laetitia Professor Emeritus of French Language, Tilburg Univer-sity, The Netherlands attended the occasion as special guests.

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Elephant cement dealers
conference held

Holiday Report

The conference of dealers of the Elephant brand cement, a product of the Mongla Cement Factory run by the Sena Kalyan Sangstha, was held at a hotel in Cox's Bazar recently.
   Sangstha's Managing Director Brig General Arif Ahmed Chowdhury attended the conference as the chief guest. Among others, high civil and military officials, district-level dealers of the cement, representatives of different construction houses and engineers were also present.
   At the conference, 28 top performing dealers were awarded for their contribution to marketing and business expansion in the financial year of 2008-09.
   The Elephant brand cement is one of the best brands in the country. The company received an ISO (International Standard Organisation) certificate for its satisfactory quality management system.

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