[🇧🇩] Jute Industry in Bangladesh

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9-day jute fair begins today

President Mohammed Shahabuddin is set to inaugurate nine-day Jute and Multipurpose Jute Products Fair from today...

www.newagebd.net

9-day jute fair begins today

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka 05 March, 2026, 22:59

President Mohammed Shahabuddin is set to inaugurate nine-day Jute and Multipurpose Jute Products Fair from today.

‘The President will inaugurate the fair at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises through online tomorrow,’ state minister for textiles and jute Md Shariful Alam told a briefing at his Bangladesh Secretariat office on Thursday.

Organised by the Department of Jute at Jute Diversification Promotion Centre marking the National Jute Day, the 9-day jute fair would continue till March 1, he added.

The state minister invited all interested buyers of jute and jute products, entrepreneurs, businessmen, various individuals and relevant stakeholders to this fair on behalf of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

He said that seven closed jute mills were being opened while the rest of others would be opened under private management subsequently.

The state minister said that the incumbent government’s goal was to turn the country into a modern, democratic, upper-middle income one with building a country of one trillion dollar economy by 2034.

Referring to the government’s electoral pledges, he said that eliminating unemployment and creating employment would be given priority.

‘Therefore, the government will work with a coordinated initiative to reopen the jute mills that were closed due to the mismanagement of the fascist government . . . Besides, long-term leasing activities still continue to privately launch the jute mills under the control of BJMC to create job opportunities and vibrant country’s economy,’ he mentioned.

The state minister said that a total of 7,200 people in nine mills out of the leased ones were working there and it would help play a very positive role in the country’s production and employment subsequently.​

 

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undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

President urges tapping potential of jute sector

BSS
Published :
Mar 06, 2026 19:33
Updated :
Mar 06, 2026 19:33

President Mohammed Shahabuddin called upon all concerned to promote the expansion of jute products in the global market and seize the golden opportunities offered by emerging prospects.

“Make and market jute bags at low prices... The world is now leaning towards eco-friendly products — we must tap the potential of the jute sector,” the President said at a function at Osmani Smrity Auditorium in Dhaka on Friday morning, marking the ‘National Jute Day 2026’.

He called for avoiding polythene bags, which are harmful to the environment, saying, “Promote jute products in the global market. Use affordable jute bags and eco-friendly products.”

He urged entrepreneurs to come forward with new, modern, high-quality, aesthetic, and affordable products in line with global market demands.

Urging greater use of modern science and technology in the jute sector, President Shahabuddin said innovations and diversification should be introduced in jute products.

He also urged jute farmers to adopt advanced, high-yield farming methods and focus on producing quality fibre.

“You have to prioritise maintaining the sustainable quality of products, developing new designs, and enhancing usability. We must create skilled manpower in this sector and ensure fair prices for jute products,” the President said.

He called upon all public and private stakeholders, including jute farmers, workers, producers, industrialists, exporters, and policymakers, to play their part in increasing production by using modern technology, fostering innovation as well as diversification and encouraging private investment.

With the support of the incumbent people-friendly government, the golden days of the jute sector will return, new employment opportunities will be created, and people’s fortunes will improve, he hoped.

Stating that jute is an integral part of Bangladesh’s socio-cultural heritage and a solid foundation for sustainable economic development, the President urged everyone to work in greater unity for the overall development and prosperity of the sector.

He said implementing the plan to create employment in various sectors based on the policy of “We will work, we will build the country” is the foremost priority of the current democratic government.

President Shahabuddin said the government has already taken initiatives to create new employment by opening various industries, including ailing and closed factories.

He said steps have been taken to make the jute sector technologically advanced, expand research, develop high-yield jute seed varieties, and use jute for diversified purposes.

The President said the new government, within 10 days of assuming office, took a groundbreaking decision to waive agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, for farmers. More than 1.1 million farmers have directly benefited from this decision.

“This decision will improve the living standards of farmers, positively impacting the rural economy,” he added.

Earlier, during the tenure of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s first government, the interest and principal of agricultural loans of up to Tk 5,000 were waived with the same objective, he said.

Mentioning that Bangladesh has returned to the path of democracy at the cost of thousands of lives, the President said, “To build a Bangladesh imbued with the aspirations of the martyrs, we must become more advanced in knowledge, science, and technology. We have to achieve economic self-reliance and build a self-reliant Bangladesh.”

Regarding the government’s distribution of farmer cards, he said the agriculture- and farmer-friendly government will start distributing the cards in phases from the next Pahela Baishakh.

Through this card, farmers will avail themselves of various facilities, including access to agricultural inputs at fair prices, government subsidies and incentives, affordable use of agricultural machinery, and agricultural loans.

The President believes these initiatives will strengthen the economy and bring prosperity to the jute sector.

He also virtually inaugurated the nine-day 'Jute and Multipurpose Jute Products Fair' at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy premises.

On the occasion, a total of 19 individuals and organizations, including 12 associations, were awarded in 12 categories.

A documentary film was screened to mark the day.

Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, MP, State Minister Md. Shariful Alam, MP, Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi, Director General of the Jute Department Syed Md. Nurul Basir, and business representative Abul Hossain, President of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA), among others, spoke on the occasion.​

 

[Saif]

Jute fair offers platform for new entrepreneurs

A nine-day Jute and Multipurpose Jute Products Fair at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital is showcasing the growing diversity of jute-based products and providing a platform for small entrepreneurs...

www.newagebd.net

Jute fair offers platform for new entrepreneurs
Staff Correspondent 11 March, 2026, 22:56

A nine-day Jute and Multipurpose Jute Products Fair at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the capital is showcasing the growing diversity of jute-based products and providing a platform for small entrepreneurs.Bangladesh travel guide

Beginning on March 6, the fair is being held marking National Jute Day 2026 under the theme ‘Develop the jute industry, create employment.’

Organised by the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, the event features 72 stalls, including two from the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, two from jute associations and 68 run by jute product entrepreneurs.

Visitors can find a wide range of diversified jute items, including bags, home décor pieces, garments made from jute yarn, carpets, painting canvases, footwear and even jute leaf tea.

Despite the variety of products, many stall owners said that the fair has been experiencing lower footfall compared with other fairs, which they attribute largely to the fasting month of Ramadan.

The fair will continue till March 14.

Among the participants is Afnan Familys Smiling Baby Foundation, an organisation producing jute-based products mainly for export to Australia while also working for underprivileged and orphan children in Trishal of Mymensingh since 2015.

Country manager Sadia Binty Siddik told New Age, ‘We mainly joined this fair to expand publicity of our products in the local market.’

Twenty-seven-year-old Sourov, another entrepreneur at the fair, said his jute-based home décor business began during the coronavirus pandemic.

He initially shared one of his designs on Facebook which received an unexpectedly positive response. ‘Now I need 12 workers to manage orders.’

Sourov mainly supplies customised jute décor products to branded showrooms across the country.

Another stall, Bangla Jute Handicrafts, displays a variety of products including coasters, table runners, floor mats, baskets, laundry boxes, hammocks and braided hangers.

Owner Md Abdus Sattar said the business now operates a factory at Fordnagar in Dhamrai of Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the stall of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute is showcasing different jute-based fabrics, yarn, seeds, jute bags and Rossella tea developed through research to improve the fibre’s quality and versatility.

Sonia Akter Pushpo, founder and chief executive of SP Handicrafts, said she previously worked as a product developer at a buying house where she learned how diversified jute products are made.

Pushpo now exports small quantities of her products to Germany, Australia and Malaysia.

She collects raw jute from Narayanganj and Rajbari at about Tk 200 per kilogram for processing at her Mirpur-based factory.

At the entrance of the fair, artist Md Tajul Islam of Tapestry and Painting Studio is exhibiting jute handloom tapestries and bags.

He previously received awards as the best

producer of diversified jute products in 2007–08 and the best entrepreneur in 2010.

His stall features several watercolour paintings and handloom tapestries from his archive, with prices ranging from Tk 25,000 to Tk 800,000, reflecting the intricate craftsmanship involved.

Another stall, handmadeBD, displays jute handloom garments including sarees and dupattas.

Entrepreneurs at the fair said diversified jute products could play an important role as environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic materials.​