Separate industrial parks for textile mills will help the government ensure smooth supply of utility services to the factories, LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said yesterday.

He said, "It will be easier for the government to ensure uninterrupted supply of power and gas to the textile units if those are located in a particular area."

Besides, unplanned industrial growth is shrinking the country's farmland, the minister said.

The minister was addressing the closing ceremony of the four-day textile fair styled 'Tex-Bangla Exposition 2006' at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka. Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) organised the annual fair.

Bhuiyan also called for settling the disputes between textile millers and garment factory owners.

He said, "Textile and garment factory owners should resolve problems for the greater interest of the country."

He also said industrialists should also take initiatives to reduce environmental degradation. Citing an example of river pollution by some dyeing factories in Narshingdi and Narayanganj areas, the minister urged the factory owners to set up waste treatment plants.

BTMA President Abdul Awal said textile millers have absorbed the post-MFA fear. "But the textile sector still needs government support as our rivals in other countries are getting state support," he added

He said, "At present, local textile millers supply 80 to 90 percent yarn to the export-oriented knitwear industry, although we have the capacity to meet 100 percent demand." At present, Bangladesh has 230 spinning mills.

A total of 39 organisations of the textile sector took part in the textile exposition that began on May 18.