Govt plans ‘textile village’ under PPP

The government is going to set up a “textile village” on 28 acres of land belonging to Tangail Cotton Mills under Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) through a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative.

Ramisa Group has proposed to develop the village at Mirzapur in Tangail at an estimated cost of about Tk 1,200 crore. The cabinet committee on economic affairs recently approved in principle Ramisa’s proposal as an unsolicited bidder. An official of the textiles and jute ministry said the approval does not mean that the company has got the final nod. Now the ministry will invite competitive bidding and Ramisa will have to participate, said the official, adding that the group would, however, get some bonus points for the approval.

He stated the PPP authority scrutinised Ramisa’s proposal and it has been despatched from the cabinet committee on that basis. The authentic said the top minister issued a directive for installing current equipment at the mills that were closed down. He stated the Tangail mill’s land was once being grabbed as it had remained closed.

The current land is valued at Tk 219 crore. Those who get the job of putting up the composite mill will have to make an annual charge to the BTMC for the latter being the landowner. Ramisa, in its proposal, stated the village would create employment for about 10,000 humans while about $14 million could be yearly earned through exporting knit and woven garments. Of the estimated Tk 1,200 crore cost, Ramisa plans to convey in foreign buyers and take financial institution loans.

Ramisa stated it would absolutely be a green project with most of the unusable development being dismantled and others being developed as required whilst keeping provisions for landscaping and supplying different facilities.

It said the venture used to be envisaged to be a composite cloth mill having amenities for production of yarn, spinning, dyeing, sizing, weaving, washing, ending and garments making.