photo: Daily Messenger
Thakurgaon, a northern district renowned for its agricultural abundance, has historically been a hub for cultivating a diverse range of crops. At one point, it held a record for producing an impressive quantity of jute, often referred to as the "golden crop."
However, due to a myriad of challenges, including inadequate pricing, farmers gradually lost their enthusiasm for jute production. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest among Thakurgaon's farmers in cultivating jute. Nevertheless, a fresh wave of disillusionment has swept over the district's jute farmers, stemming from issues plaguing the government's jute procurement centre.
Local farmers find themselves disheartened upon learning that the 54-decimal land housing the 'Jute Purchase Centre' in Shibganj, Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila, is being sold at an exceedingly nominal price, with the transfer process already in progress.
The current estimated market value of this land stands at a substantial 3 crore taka, but the ongoing transfer is transacting at a mere 31 lakh 76 thousand taka. This stark discrepancy between the market value and the selling price has triggered a negative reaction among the local populace.
According to sources, the Bangladesh Jute Corporation's local inspector's office, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Jute and Textiles, acquired this 54-decimal land in Shibganj, Thakurgaon, on June 29, 1974, at a cost of 45 lakh 75 thousand taka. Subsequently, the land was designated as a 'jute purchase centre.'
In 1985, all jute-buying centers operated by the Jute Trading Corporation, including the above mentioned one, were handed over to the Bangladesh Jute Corporation. Around the turn of the millennium, these dormant centres came under the purview of the Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation.
During a period when the nation's jute industry faced economic challenges, these centres remained largely idle. The sale of these underutilised properties and land commenced, often facilitated by a select few unscrupulous officials from the relevant ministries.
As part of this process, following a tender in Shibganj, the ministry opted to sell the 54-decimal property to local businessman Rajiul Islam for Tk 31.76 lakh on December 22, 2011, issuing a letter of intent to this effect.
It is noteworthy that the terms of sale explicitly stipulate that the full contract amount is to be paid in three separate installments within 90 days from the date of the letter of intent's issuance. However, Rajiul failed to remit the remaining 75 percent of the sum after initially paying 25 percent, equivalent to 8 lakhs, on December 22, 2011—a clear breach of the tender's terms.
Surprisingly, about four months after making this partial payment, on April 12, 2012, the jute centre's land was gazetted as vested property by the government.
This year, on July 26, Raziur applied to the Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, requesting payment of the remaining 75 percent mentioned in the agreement.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official from the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation associated with the matter said, “The decision to sell the Thakurgaon jute buying centre was made in July 2011. Subsequently, on December 22, 2012, the land was gazetted as vested property, only to be later removed from the list of vested properties.”
Following an appeal, which was rejected by the court on December 12, 2020, the property's ownership was reinstated under the Ministry of Jute and Textiles.
When contacted, Raziul Islam confirmed his application for the remaining payment and explained, "The delay in remitting the remaining sum was due to the property's assigned status following the gazette publication, as per the tender's terms. However, Raziul Islam could not provide an explanation for his failure to meet the stipulated payment deadline.”
Meanwhile, in light of the revival of jute cultivation and the profitability of several jute mills in the Dinajpur-Thakurgaon-Panchgarh district, local farmers and jute traders are voicing strong opposition to the sale and transfer of the jute buying centre's land at an undervalued price.
Bablur Rahman, a local jute trader, said, "Rather than disposing of this invaluable property for a pittance, reopening the centre and revitalising jute procurement would not only ensure fair prices for jute farmers but also invigorate the area's business and commerce."
Thakurgaon Jute Development Officer Asim Kumar Malakar stated that the farmers in the region had lost interest in jute cultivation in the past. However, the rising demand and favourable market prices have rekindled their interest. Over the past few years, jute cultivation has flourished on more than 10,000 hectares of land in the district. Reestablishing the jute buying centre would not only secure fair market prices for local farmers but also ensure the timely sale of jute, potentially resurrecting the region's golden era of jute cultivation.
Messenger/Mahmud/Disha
