The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Textiles and Jute Ministry on Sunday recommended the ministry to take steps for expediting implementation of ‘Sheikh Hasina Nakshipalli, Jamalpur (Phase I)’ project.

The recommendation came from the 12th meeting of the committee held at the Parliament Bhaban with its chairman Mirza Azam MP in the chair.

The parliamentary watchdog asked the ministry for necessary steps to complete the implementation of the project soon by re-fixing a logical deadline as its original deadline expired in December 2021.

On March, 2019, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project involving an estimated cost of Tk 722 crore, aiming at enhancing facilities for Nakshi entrepreneurs, handloom and handicraft workers, alleviation of poverty of Nakshi and handloom workers and improvement of their livelihood condition.

Bangladesh Handloom Board is implementing the project on a 300-acre land in Jamalpur.

Besides, the parliamentary body suggested the implementation of a project titled “Sheikh Hasina Sonali Ansh Bhaban” (Sheikh Hasina Golden Fiber Bhaban), which was approved by Bangabandhu Memorial Trust, through a sharing method between a developer firm and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation.

The meeting discussed BJMC manpower issues, the progress in enlistment of jute products as agricultural goods, the steps taken by the ministry to solve the existing problems in jute sector including waiving bank loans against private jute mills, and the measures taken to ensure enforcement of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.

Committee members Mouazzem Hossain Ratan, Ranajit Kumar Roy, Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and Shahin Akter attended the meeting.