Adviser to the Ministries of Commerce, Textiles and Jute, and Civil Aviation and Tourism, Sheikh Bashir Uddin, has expressed deep concern over the alarming decline in the demand for jute, once regarded as the most valuable asset of the textile industry.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, October 15, while addressing the “Hafizuddin Ahmed and Fatema Ahmed Trust Lecture 2025” seminar titled The Role of Jute in Sustainable Development, organized by the Department of Yarn Engineering at Bangladesh University of Textiles (BUTEX).
The commerce adviser said that initiatives worth approximately Tk 100 crore have been launched through the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC), involving 1,006 entrepreneurs, in an effort to bring a cultural shift in the market for jute-based products.
“We have both opportunities and challenges in our industry,” he said. “The responsibility for the sharp fall in jute demand lies with us. Unless we assess the reality and act accordingly, we will continue to suffer losses and lag behind.”
The seminar was presided over by BUTEX Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Engr. Md. Julhas Uddin. Special guests included Dr. Nargis Akhter, Director of the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute; Engr. Khan Manjur Morshed, Vice President of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB); Engr. Ahsanul Karim Kaiser, Convener of ITET; and Engr. Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Textile Engineering Division at IEB. The keynote paper was presented by Dr. Hosne Ara Begum, Professor of Yarn Engineering at BUTEX.
Dr. Hosne Ara Begum highlighted that the excessive use of plastic and polythene is a major cause of environmental pollution. She emphasized that replacing such materials with jute could provide a much more eco-friendly alternative. “Jute, which once topped global demand, is now underutilized due to our own negligence. Its use is not only environmentally sustainable but also economically beneficial,” she said.
In his closing remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Engr. Md. Julhas Uddin stressed the need for extensive research on jute as a natural and environmentally friendly fiber. “Beyond sacks and shopping bags, we must explore how to expand the use of jute in other industries. I plan to establish a new department and research center at BUTEX dedicated to jute fiber innovation,” he announced.
