SAKOATEX plans to create huge employment in Rajshahi

SAKOATEX, a large-scale industrial unit in the northern region, is going to start operations from September. It has come as a beacon of hope for the people of the region as it will create huge employment.

SAKOATEX, which will manufacture sweaters, established at the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) area of the Rajshahi city, belongs to the ENA Group. At least 10,000 will get employment in the industry at the primary stage, officials said.

Housed in a six-storied building, SAKOATEX will manufacture 120,000 export-quality sweaters per month in the preliminary stage. The production will be gradually increased to one million (10 lakh) per month, they added.

SAKOATEX project director Asif Rahman disclosed that all the necessary machinery, to be used at the factory, has been imported from Japan. The machines have been set up and the training of operators has been completed. The industrial unit is 100 per cent export-oriented.

He added that SAKOATEX is the first-ever large-scale sweater factory in the northern region. He said, as there was no facility of gas supplies, no heavy industrial unit was earlier established in the Rajshahi region. Now, with gas being available, more heavy industries are likely to be established here.

The deputy managing director of the ENA Group, Dr Mosleh Uddin, disclosed that all the work related to setting up the industrial unit has been completed.

Local industrialists and businessmen in Rajshahi are hopeful that trade and industry will expand here following the establishment of heavy industries like SAKOATEX.

The president of the Reshom Shilpa Owners’ Association, Liakat Ali, blamed a financial crisis, shortage of labour and worn-out mechanical devices for the various problems plaguing Rajshahi Textile Mills. Again, with a large volume of debts, the mill is running at a loss of some Tk 60 lakh every month.

The erstwhile industry minister, martyr AHM Kamruzzaman, attempted to generate employment and give a fillip to industrialisation in the neglected northern region by setting up Rajshahi Textile Mills.

Though in 1983 and 1984 the mill earned profits—the only time in its entire history—the production level of the mill started to decline after that and is now making losses, he added.

He further disclosed that the production level in 1979 to 1980 reached 2,500,000 kg of yarn. In 2014–15, this fell to only 4.75 lakh kg.

After that, no heavy industrial unit was set up in Rajshahi as a result of various obstacles. But with the inauguration of SAKOATEX, a new horizon will be opened up in the industrial sector in Rajshahi and the bleak employment scenario of this region would be ameliorated, Ali added.

Again, Rajshahi Sericulture Industries started its journey on 15 bighas of land with 471 workers in 1961. Till 1975, the industries operated as a profitable concern. But soon after being handed over to the control of the Bangladesh Reshom Board, it turned into a losing concern.

Following continuous losses, the state-owned sericulture factory was declared closed, rendering several hundred labourers and employees unemployed. The factory was later handed over to the Privatisation Commission. However, there was no change in the status of the factory even after this move.

The deputy general manager of Rajshahi BSCIC, Azharul Islam, said there was enough space at the BSCIC industrial area to set up new industries. In this connection, he added that if any entrepreneur was willing to set up heavy industries here, he would be welcome, and would be given extended full cooperation, including allocation of land.

Prof ANK Noman of the Economics department of Rajshahi University explained that Rajshahi had considerable potential to establish heavy industries because the price of land was very

low here and labour was also available at low wages.

He said the government should come forward to assist private entrepreneurs with all logistical support to set up heavy industries here. He expressed his hope there would be a change in the

economic condition of Rajshahi if more heavy industries like SAKOATEX are established here.

The Bagmara MP and ENA Group chairman, Engineer Enamul Haque, said, “Despite having great potential, no heavy industry was set up in Rajshahi even 46 years after Independence. SAKOATEX is being set up in ‘industrially backward’ Rajshahi so that there can be acceleration in trade and commerce here and unemployed people can get jobs.”

He also said he has taken up this task as a challenge, adding that since there was no other such industry here, he will set up a training institute here to ensure supplies of efficient manpower. He also has a plan to set up a spinning mill here within a couple of years.

SAKOATEX plans to create huge employment in Rajshahi

SAKOATEX, a large-scale industrial unit in the northern region, is going to start operations from September. It has come as a beacon of hope for the people of the region as it will create huge employment. SAKOATEX, which will manufacture sweaters, established at the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) area of the Rajshahi city, belongs to the ENA Group. At least 10,000 will get employment in the industry at the primary stage, officials said. Housed in a six-storied building, SAKOATEX will manufacture 120,000 export-quality sweaters per month in the preliminary stage. The production will be gradually increased to one million (10 lakh) per month, they added. SAKOATEX project director Asif Rahman disclosed that all the necessary machinery, to be used at the factory, has been imported from Japan. The machines have been set up and the training of operators has been completed. The industrial unit is 100 per cent export-oriented. He added that SAKOATEX is the first-ever large-scale sweater factory in the northern region. He said, as there was no facility of gas supplies, no heavy industrial unit was earlier established in the Rajshahi region. Now, with gas being available, more heavy industries are likely to be established here. The deputy managing director of the ENA Group, Dr Mosleh Uddin, disclosed that all the work related to setting up the industrial unit has been completed. Local industrialists and businessmen in Rajshahi are hopeful that trade and industry will expand here following the establishment of heavy industries like SAKOATEX. The president of the Reshom Shilpa Owners Association, Liakat Ali, blamed a financial crisis, shortage of labour and worn-out mechanical devices for the various problems plaguing Rajshahi Textile Mills. Again, with a large volume of debts, the mill is running at a loss of some Tk 60 lakh every month. The erstwhile industry minister, martyr AHM Kamruzzaman, attempted to generate employment and give a fillip to industrialisation in the neglected northern region by setting up Rajshahi Textile Mills. Though in 1983 and 1984 the mill earned profitsthe only time in its entire historythe production level of the mill started to decline after that and is now making losses, he added. He further disclosed that the production level in 1979 to 1980 reached 2,500,000 kg of yarn. In 201415, this fell to only 4.75 lakh kg. After that, no heavy industrial unit was set up in Rajshahi as a result of various obstacles. But with the inauguration of SAKOATEX, a new horizon will be opened up in the industrial sector in Rajshahi and the bleak employment scenario of this region would be ameliorated, Ali added. Again, Rajshahi Sericulture Industries started its journey on 15 bighas of land with 471 workers in 1961. Till 1975, the industries operated as a profitable concern. But soon after being handed over to the control of the Bangladesh Reshom Board, it turned into a losing concern. Following continuous losses, the state-owned sericulture factory was declared closed, rendering several hundred labourers and employees unemployed. The factory was later handed over to the Privatisation Commission. However, there was no change in the status of the factory even after this move. The deputy general manager of Rajshahi BSCIC, Azharul Islam, said there was enough space at the BSCIC industrial area to set up new industries. In this connection, he added that if any entrepreneur was willing to set up heavy industries here, he would be welcome, and would be given extended full cooperation, including allocation of land. Prof ANK Noman of the Economics department of Rajshahi University explained that Rajshahi had considerable potential to establish heavy industries because the price of land was very low here and labour was also available at low wages. He said the government should come forward to assist private entrepreneurs with all logistical support to set up heavy industries here. He expressed his hope there would be a change in the economic condition of Rajshahi if more heavy industries like SAKOATEX are established here. The Bagmara MP and ENA Group chairman, Engineer Enamul Haque, said, Despite having great potential, no heavy industry was set up in Rajshahi even 46 years after Independence. SAKOATEX is being set up in industrially backward Rajshahi so that there can be acceleration in trade and commerce here and unemployed people can get jobs. He also said he has taken up this task as a challenge, adding that since there was no other such industry here, he will set up a training institute here to ensure supplies of efficient manpower. He also has a plan to set up a spinning mill here within a couple of years.