Frustrated growers set unsold jute on fire

As jute prices continue to fall in local markets, growers yesterday staged a demonstration in front of BJMC purchasing centre at Mohimaganj in Gobindaganj upazila and set fire to their unsold raw jute.Good yield of jute fails to make the growers in the district happy as the prices see a declining trend. Early this season jute sold for Tk 1400 to 1500 per maund but now it is selling for Tk 900 to 1050 in the local markets.As the number of buyers is poor in the markets, growers return home disappointed with their unsold jute.Jute procurement by the government has remained stopped at Mohimaganj for the last few years. This year, Alim Jute Mills has opened a purchasing centre here as an agent of BJMC and started purchasing raw jute from farmers on August 6.The agency has so far procured jute worth Tk 1.13 crore on credit from growers and traders. It has paid up outstanding bills amounting to Tk 10 lakh till date. So, a good number of growers and traders are yet to get money.Farmers said jute prices in the local markets are coming down gradually as traders and brokers don’t have much money to purchase raw jute from them.The growers and traders of Mohimaganj yesterday demanded early payment of the outstanding bills. Otherwise, they threatened to launch a tougher agitation programme.“We have already sought a fund of Tk 1.3 crore from the mill authorities to clear dues,” said Khairul Islam, in-charge of jute purchasing centre at Mohimaganj.