When jute and jute goods are driving out plastic and synthetic products on environmental grounds, the country's jute industry is on the verge of ruin, they told the seminar titled 'What to Do for Resolving the Problems in Jute and Jute Industry in Bangladesh'.

"The jute industry in neighbouring India is thriving but Bangladesh's jute sector faces ruin due to lack of policy support," Professor Anu Muhammad, member secretary of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Port, told the seminar organised by Centre for Law Research and Support (CLRS), a rights group. Justice Golam Rabbani presided over the seminar.

Although Bangladesh enjoys advantages in production of jute and jute goods, the country is failing to reap the benefits as it follows the suggestions of World Bank and IMF, he said.

Sensing the increasing demand, Indian government in its 2005 jute policy fixed a target to increase the earning from jute sector, said Shah Alam, convener of CLRS.

When Bangladesh government is privatising or shutting down jute mills, the West Bengal government in India has taken up a project to set up three new jute mills by investing Rs 10,000 crore, Shah Alam added.

Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, called for diversifying the country's export basket by reviving the jute industry.

Littérateur Salina Hossain, Engineer Sheikh Muhammad Shahidullah, Professor Mejbah Kamal of Dhaka University, among others, spoke.