The government has prioritised reopening shuttered industrial units to boost production and create jobs, while also stepping up market monitoring to keep prices stable, Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters after a session of the Deputy Commissioners’ (DC) conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium, he said reviving sick and closed factories would be a key focus of the government’s economic strategy.
He said around 50 closed and struggling textile and jute mills are being prepared for transfer to the private sector in phases, a move expected to attract fresh investment, raise output and generate significant employment. The process is targeted for completion within a year.
The minister added that the government ultimately plans to hand over all state-owned textile and jute mills to private operators. Of the 50 mills—25 textile and 25 jute—some have already been leased out, with the rest to follow soon.
Alongside industrial revival, the government is pushing for structural reforms in market management. Muktadir said district administrators have been asked to intensify monitoring to help stabilise prices, particularly by addressing the wide gap between producer and retail prices, especially for agricultural goods.
He noted that Bangladesh has lacked a coordinated market management system for decades, and the government is now working to introduce an AI-based supply chain monitoring system.
The proposed system would track imports, stocks, wholesale and retail activities in real time, improving transparency and accountability.
To tackle global supply disruptions, the government is also planning to build strategic reserves of key imported commodities such as fuel and sugar.
Muktadir said the initiative would reduce reliance on a few market players and help prevent artificial price hikes during crises.
“We want to ensure that the government holds one to two months’ stock of essential imported goods so that no group can manipulate the market,” he said, adding that price volatility is not always due to syndicates but also stems from structural inefficiencies.
The minister also said proposals from district administrations—including reviving idle industries, establishing new industrial zones, reopening closed sugar mills and setting up distilleries—are being reviewed.
To strengthen market interventions, the government plans to form an advisory body for the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), incorporating experts from both public and private sectors.
He also outlined a special action plan for preserving rawhides during the upcoming Eid al-Adha, including training at local levels, salt distribution, awareness campaigns and temporary restrictions on rawhide transport to ensure proper local preservation.
Officials said coordinated efforts between the administration and the elected government would be key to ensuring supply chain stability and protecting consumer interests.