DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday categorically said the privately-run closed factories would be recovered from the owners aiming to resuming production of those.

The premier came up with the announcement while paying a visit to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in the Secretariat on the day as part of her regular visit to the ministries.

This was PM Hasina’s first visit to any ministry since she joined her office after Eid and Puja vacation.

The premier said that they would not sell any factories to private-ownership rather factories those bought by private-owners had not been opened yet, will be recovered.

Later, measures are to be taken to make the factory function and the factory would be handed over to that people who will run those, she added.

The premier also asked the authorities concerned to use the adjacent area of the factories and industries.

Hasina further said the country’s export earnings has been increased to 25 billion in 2013-2014 fiscal from 13 billon in 2009-2010 fiscal

The premier said approximately 50 lakhs people have been employed in textile, ready made garments and other related industry.

Bangladesh has become one of 10 emerging countries in the world economy, our gross domestic product (GDP) has been increase by 6.2 percent, she said adding, some 1 crore people has been employed and 5 crore has come above the poverty line, she added.

She said, once, the highest foreign currency was earned from jute as it was the main extorting goods. Later, price of jute and jute-made products began decreasing due to availability and low price of different artificial fiber and synthetic goods, added Hasina.

She said but demands of fiber-made products have begun increasing around the world due to rising awareness on climate change and environment pollution caused by harmful unrefined wastes.

And the maximum economic opportunity can possibly be achieved from the jute and jute-made products through fulfilling these demands, Hasina hoped.

The premier said that a total of 5 closed-jute mills have been reopened and the present government plans to open several other closed-mills gradually.

Hasina asked the ministry to move for establishing paper and mound processing mills from jute, modernizing of jute mills run by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and reopening of cotton mills run by Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation.

Textiles and Jute Minister M Emaz Uddin Pramanik, State Minister Mirza Azam, ministry’s secretaries and high officials were present.

BDST: 1600 HRS, OCT 12, 2014