The Rajshahi Textile Mill, which has been closed for 22 years, is going to restart its journey as 'Barendra Rajshahi Textile Limited' in Rajshahi at the initiative of the country's leading PRAN-RFL Group.
PRAN-RFL is going to launch this mill under the private-public partnership (PPP) with guise of Bangladesh Textile Mill Corporation (BTMC). Currently, production in the factory has begun on test basis while it will be inaugurated officially very soon.
PRAN-RFL wants to turn this factory, on about 26 acres in area, into the largest environment-friendly industrial enterprise in North Bengal.
An investment plan of about Tk 350 crore has been earmarked to provide employment to 12,000 people within two years. The factory will be 100pc export-oriented. Various bags, shoes and ready-made garments will be produced here. In addition, a modern call center will be established.
Kamruzzaman Kamal, Marketing Director at PRAN-RFL Group, said this at a 'Meet the Press' event organized on the occasion of launching the mill at a hotel in Rajshahi on Monday, says a press release.
PRAN-RFL took over the factory in December after signing the agreement in October last year. Within three months of taking charge, PRAN-RFL has begun trial production at the factory. Full-scale operations are expected to start within the next two years.
Addressing the occasion, Kamruzzaman Kamal said, "We have to come out of the Dhaka-centric activities for the sake of overall development of the country. That is why we have started this large industrial project in North Bengal. Through this, thousands of people of Rajshahi division will get employment and the local economy will benefitthrough this initiative."
He further said, "This factory will be a fully sustainable green industrial park, which will have solar energy, green zones and water recycling systems. The factory will be 100pc export-oriented."
Anisur Rahman, Executive Director of Multi-line Industries Limited, a sister concern of PRAN-RFL Group, said, "In the meantime, we have repaired the abandoned shed in the factory and started a small-scale manufacturing of shoes and bags, where about 1,000 people from Rajshahi region have been given employment opportunities.
In addition, the process of hiring another 1,000 people is underway." He also said, a 'Skill Development Center' will be set up to enhance the skill of local workers. One of the objectives of this investment is to curb the trend of moving towards the capital by utilizing the labor market of Rajshahi.
"We are optimistic that if this project is successful, we will be able to move forward with larger investments and expansion in the Rajshahi region in the future," he said
Currently, PRAN-RFL Group has two factories in Rajshahi - Barendra Industrial Park and PRAN Agro Limited - where about 1,200 people have been employed.
Touhiduzzaman, Deputy General Manager (Public Relations) of PRAN-RFL Group, Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Assistant General Manager of Barendra Rajshahi Textile Limited Factory and senior officials of the group, were present on the occasion.
