Terry towel makers taking their products abroad

Terry towel makers at an industrial estate of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) in Kishoreganj have shrugged off the coronavirus-induced economic downturn as production has reached pre-pandemic levels amid growing orders from abroad.

Their success in shipping quality products to different local and global markets is also an inspiration for other entrepreneurs at the estate, which has good communication with Dhaka and Chattogram, according to BSCIC officials.

AKM Mahfuzur Rahman Bappi, proprietor of the Maanuri Textile Mills, said the towels they produce are mostly shipped to the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Bappi, also a director of the Bangladesh Terry Towel and Linen Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTTLMEA), then informed that his factory, which employs around 500 workers, produces up to Tk 5 lakh worth of goods for export each month.

He now plans to open a new unit considering the growing demand and has ordered 50 power looms from China to this end.

"I will invest more than Tk 10 crore over the next year to set up the new enterprise, which will need some 200 workers," the BTTLMEA director added.

However, the industrial area still has its short comings as it lacks key infrastructure, such as a boundary wall, and stable gas supply.

Mohammad Hanif, manager of Vergo Fashion Ltd, which only produces towels for export to countries such as Japan and those in Europe, said their business has been going well these days.

He then demanded that a boundary wall be set up immediately as incidents of robbery and drug abuse sometimes occur.

"I informed the BSCIC officials on different occasions, but no solution is yet to be seen," he added.

Entrepreneurs also urged for better coordination and relations between themselves and estate officials.

In addition, many plots have remained unused for years and so, reallocating them for productive businesses would be a great support for thousands in the area and across the country as well, said Abu Shama, a local businessman.

Established in 1987 on some 20 acres of land, the Kishoreganj estate has 66 industrial units covering 150 plots. Of these units, 33 units are currently operational, BSCIC sources say.

The estate is facing other problems too, including poor inner road networks and drainage systems, which should be upgraded for running smooth business in the area.

SM Aslam Kabir, estate officer of the industrial area, said they recently held a meeting with plot owners to discuss their problems.

He also said only Tk 10,000 is allocated each year for a cleanliness drive, but the amount is too scanty for this purpose.

Some entrepreneurs say they suffer due to unstable utility services.

Md Morshid Mia, proprietor of Dayal Food Products, said he faced losses of around Tk 20 lakh in the last seven years for having to burn wood to run his factory in absence of adequate gas supply.

Unable to make up costs, Morshid ultimately rented out his factory.

Sheikh Md Sohrab Uddin, assistant general manager of the Kishoreganj BSCIC, said they have already informed the higher authorities about the problems at the estate.

Regarding the vacant plots, Uddin said they asked the plot owners on various occasions to start their business but many of them did not respond yet.

Also, BSCIC officials regularly contact gas and electricity suppliers and also discuss the problem at district coordination meetings to render improved utility services in the industrial area.