Jute Market Dull in Magura
Tk 3 cr of traders still unpaid by BJMC, mills
Hossain Seraj, Magura
Jute purchase in the district is yet to pick up as traders have no capital because they have about Tk three crore lying outstanding with BJMC (Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation) mills."We do not have money to buy jute but the mill authorities are indifferent to repaying our arrear dues", said Uday Sankar Saha, a top jute trader at Natun Bazaar in Magura. According to the jute traders, before closure of Adamjee Jute Mills Ltd (AJM) in 2002, its authorities bought 2500 tonnes of jute of worth about Tk 3 crores through local traders. BJMC paid Tk 2 crore in two installments and Tk one crore is still unpaid. Moreover, Peoples Jute Mills Ltd, Platinum Jute Mills Ltd, Crescent Jute Mills Ltd, Star Jute Mills Ltd. and Gul Ahmed Jute Mills Ltd. owe to local traders over Tk 2 crore, they said while talking to this correspondent. Another big jute trader seeking anonymity said most of the mills have virtually closed their purchasing centres in Magura. About 17,890 hectares of land were brought under jute cultivation in Madaripur this year, according to sources in the Agriculture Extension Department (AED). Jute cultivation increased substantially in the district in the last three years following steps by AED but farmers are frustrated now because prices have fallen, they said. "As the traders do not have money, the jute market is under the control of middleman who are offering lower prices", said Abul Kalam who came to sell jute at Natun Bazaar on Saturday.
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