Khulna Correspondent:

The export of jute, jute goods and shrimp has risen from Khulna during the interim government period due to the glorious image of new Bangladesh, said the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

The improvement of the global economy also played a role in increasing the flow of export orders as Khulna exporters earned Tk 3,483.24cr from July 2024 to January 2025, an increase of Tk 780.45cr from the same period last year (2023-24FY).

The EPB data showed that a total of 13,019.80 tonnes of frozen shrimp were exported, earning Tk 1,990.39cr.

Apart from this, the export of white fish, kuchia, crab, vegetables, raw jute and jute goods has also increased.

Zeenat Ara, Director of Khulna EPB, that the improvement of the global economy, the nearly stable state of the foreign currency and returning of the glorious image of Bangladesh were behind increasing exports.

“Exports dropped from Khulna last year due to manifold reasons including closing government jute mills during the fallen regime,” she said.

She referred to recent visits of Textiles and Jute Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin, hoping that Khulna will regain its previous glory in the export of jute.

The government plans to lease out the closed jute mills to the private sector to pave the way for reopening those, she added.

Tariqul Islam Zaheer, Director of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association said Khulna businessmen hope that exports of shrimp, jute, jute goods and other products will increase as the environment-friendly business atmosphere prevails in the country.

There were 63 shrimp processing factories in Khulna. Of them, 33 factories remained closed due to decreasing production and demand in international markets in previous years, he said.

Contacted, Sharif Fazlur Rahman, a jute trader and ex-vice-president of Bangladesh Jute Association, said the export of raw jute and jute goods is soaring in the global markets creating bright prospects in Khulna.

Slamming previous government policy, Rahman said the fallen government destroyed the country’s jute sector.