Photo : TDM
After a prolonged closure of 21 years, the Thakurgaon silk factory, renowned for its production of smooth silk fabrics, has been officially relaunched on Thursday. The momentous event was marked by Ramesh Chandra Sen, a distinguished member of the Advisory Board of A-League and a respected Member of Parliament representing Thakurgaon-1 Constituency, who ceremoniously cut the ribbon to mark the reopening.
The reopening of the silk factory holds the promise of generating employment opportunities for these farmers and creating a positive impact on the silk industry in the region. Supriyo Group has taken a lease for 5 years with the vision of exporting smooth silk fabric produced in the Thakurgaon silk factory through the cooperative efforts of local farmers engaged in sericulture.
Under the esteemed leadership of Alhaj Md. Bablur Rahman, the founder chairman of Supriya Group, the opening ceremony of the Supriya silk factory took place.
Several other dignitaries, including Additional District Magistrate Ramakrishna Barman, Police Superintendent Uttam Prasad Pathak, District A-League President and Zilla Parishad Chairman Md. Sadek Quraishi, General Secretary Deepak Kumar Roy, and Vice President Mahabubur Rahman Khokon, among others. The occasion also saw the participation of various factory employees, workers, leaders from A-League, and representatives from different business organizations.
Thakurgaon was once renowned for its production of high-quality silk cloth in its traditional silk factory. However, the factory's closure resulted in the unemployment of around five thousand silk farmers, with nearly 2 to 3 thousand of them being involved in sericulture. The absence of mulberry trees hindered their ability to nurture silkworms, further exacerbating the situation.
Belayet Hossain, the factory's General Manager, expressed that efforts are underway to reconnect with the previous factory workers who are still able to work, and they are being re-employed. In addition to the previous 5 thousand farmers, a new wave of enthusiasm has sparked, with about 6 to 6 and a half thousand farmers engaging in sericulture.
Deputy Commissioner Mahbubur Rahman emphasised the significance of Thakurgaon's silk tradition and stated that the factory's reopening will create numerous employment opportunities in the region. Thakurgaon silk is renowned for its superior quality and is in high demand both within the country and internationally.
It is noteworthy that the silk factory in Thakurgaon was initially established by the private company RDRS in 1977-78. In 1995, the factory underwent modernization work, which was completed in December 1998. Unfortunately, citing losses, the factory was shut down on November 30, 2002. However, the infrastructure, including land, machinery, and raw materials, remained intact and is now brought back to life with the reinauguration of the Supriya Resham Factory.
END/TDM/ARS
