All closed factories to reopen, overseas labour markets to be restored: PM

All closed factories in the country will be reopened and steps are being taken to resume recruitment in overseas labour markets, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said today (2 May).

Highlights: TBS

While addressing a rally after inaugurating the re-excavation work of the Basia River in Kandigaon union under Sylhet Sadar upazila this afternoon, he said that within five to seven days of forming the government, he held a meeting with Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and asked him to identify all closed factories and the reasons behind their shutdown. 

He said the government will gradually reopen these factories to create employment opportunities for unemployed people.

The government has also held discussions with local industrial entrepreneurs so that they can establish new factories, the prime minister said. This, he added, will help create more jobs for young people. 

He said labour markets in countries that are currently closed to Bangladesh will also be reopened soon, allowing workers to go abroad again.

Referring to election pledges, the prime minister said the government has already started implementing its commitments. 

He mentioned that canal excavation activities have begun across the country, including the re-excavation of the river. 

After completion of the work, 50,000 trees will be planted along both sides of the river, including fruit-bearing trees, allowing local residents to enjoy the natural environment, he added.

Tarique said the Basia re-excavation project will directly benefit 80,000 farmers and indirectly benefit at least 150,000 people. 

The project is expected to increase food production by an additional 7,000 metric tonnes annually, he said, adding that canal excavation has already started in 60 districts.

The prime minister mentioned that the government has introduced family and farmer's cards. 

Through these cards, farmers will be able to access fertiliser, pesticides, seeds and agricultural loans, he said, adding that loans of up to Tk10,000 for 1.2 million farmers have already been waived in line with government commitments.

He also said allowances have been introduced for imams, muezzins and other religious leaders.

The Basia River was last excavated in 1979 under the canal-digging programme of then-president Ziaur Rahman. After 47 years, it is being re-excavated again under the current government, led by his son.

According to sources, around 23.5 kilometres of the river will be excavated at a cost of Tk12 crore. This will benefit around 90,000 farmers in South Surma, Osmaninagar, Bishwanath and Jagannathpur, while about 20,000 hectares of land will come under cultivation. The project, under the supervision of the Bangladesh Water Development Board, will deepen the river by around 1.5 to 2 metres.

At the inauguration, the prime minister planted trees along the riverbank and exchanged brief views with local residents.

Earlier in the day, he inaugurated a mega project aimed at addressing flooding and waterlogging in Sylhet city. He later spoke at a gathering at the city corporation building.

The prime minister said that travel from Sylhet to London takes about nine to nine and a half hours, while road travel from Sylhet to Dhaka takes around 10 hours. 

He said the government has identified land acquisition problems at 11 points that delayed the expansion of the Sylhet-Dhaka highway. These issues have now been resolved, and work is expected to begin soon, he added.

He also said the government has planned to upgrade the Dhaka-Sylhet railway line to a double track.

He announced that a 200-bed abandoned hospital in Sylhet will be reopened soon and that efforts will be made to upgrade Osmani Hospital to 1,200 beds.