They said the plan should be formulated after discussion with the farmers, businessmen, economists and administrators for quick implementation.

The press conference was organised by Nagorik Sanghati in association with ActionAid Bangladesh at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium.

The speakers said unbridled institutional corruption, negative advice of the international financial organisation, and lack of integrated efforts for long have made the potential jute sector a volatile one.

In a written statement, Sharifuzzaman Sharif, general secretary of Nagorik Sanghati, said jute has started arriving in the market and farmers are selling it to traders at a low price as the Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) is not purchasing jute due to lack of money.

Taking the opportunity, a section of traders are hoarding jute and the BJMC will have to purchase jutes from them at a higher price, he added.

Sharif demanded immediate allocation of money for the BJMC so that it can purchase jute from the growers."

He said the BJMC had to count about Tk 140 crore last year for purchasing jute lately.

Sharif said about 60 lakh bales of jute is expected to be produced this year.

Columnist Syed Abul Moksud said when the jute sector is flourishing in the neighbouring country we are lagging behind in this sector.

Engineer M Inamul Haque said the demand for jute products has been increasing in the international market day by day as it is environment-friendly.

He said mismanagement, lack of farsightedness and widespread corruption have brought the jute sector on the verge of destruction.

Nagorik Sanghoti President Atiqur Rahman called for reopening of the factories which were declared lay-off and immediate payment of the workers who were sacked from different factories.