<i>Jute and the reality </i>
The present caretaker government closed four big jute mills. Thousands of workers lost their jobs. Poor workers (and also their families) do not know their future destinations. I am deeply shocked by it.
We all know that past elected governments also closed Adamjee Jute Mills and many non-profitable industries. At present there are 18 jute mills run by the government. It is now proved that jute industries are a losing concern. I do not know how long the remaining mills can survive. I also observed that certain quarters are anxious about our jute and jute mills workers. Some intellectuals are blaming World Bank or IMF or have found some conspiracy theory.
The major disadvantages of jute fibres are: it is rapidly degraded in water and the mechanical properties vary widely, tensile strength is low compared to synthetic fibres such as glass and carbon. As a result, synthetic fibres prevailed over jute. Once upon a time, South Asian people treated jute as golden fibre and in the international market jute had a great demand. Bangladesh earned a lot of foreign currency from jute export. Jute fibres were used as ropes, shopping bags, cloth (chot), fibres, packaging materials, show pieces etc. The general people widely used jute-made articles because of low price and availability. But the question is why jute failed? The answer is, the scientists in the world are always looking forward to finding low cost materials. As a result, a lot of polymeric materials (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride etc.) have been invented and the general people accepted these materials warmly because of some advantages.
I would like to request the authorities concerned to form a commission to save the jute sector. Otherwise, our poor farmers and jute mills workers will suffer.
Comments