Nakshipalli project worth Tk 3,500 crore is being done for Tk 200 crore!

Former State Minister for Textiles and Jute and MP from Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madarganj) constituency Mirza Azam took up the plan for the huge Nakshipalli project after his visit to China. He got the Tk 3,500 crore project approved without considering the country's needs. Although many, including the Planning Minister, opposed it, he avoided all objections by naming the project after Sheikh Hasina.

According to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, although Tk 722 crore was allocated for the first phase of the project, work has not started even after five years. The ministry's lack of interest and political tension in implementing the project have acted as the main obstacles. Many in the concerned quarters have questioned the rationality of the project, fearing that 300 acres of cropland will be destroyed.

A senior official of the Handloom Board said that there was no need to take up such a big project. Dr. Honorable Fellow of the research institute CPD Mostafizur Rahman also believes that many projects were taken during the previous government's tenure that were not economically sustainable.

Local farmers expressed their concerns when they visited the project area recently. Farmer Mofiz (44) said, "If my land is taken, I will become unemployed. Three crops are grown here a year." Another farmer Alauddin (50) said, "I have 52 percent of my land, where three crops are grown and I earn one lakh taka a year. What will we do if the land is gone?"

Meanwhile, an initiative has been taken to change the name of the project to 'Jamalpur Nakshipalli'. It has been proposed to implement the project within Tk 200 crore by reducing the cost. The Planning Commission said that the scope of the project will be newly determined for 500 entrepreneurs. Head of the Weaving Board (Planning and Implementation) Md. Ayub Ali said that plans are underway to implement the project on a limited budget of 100 acres.

However, Secretary of the Textiles and Jute Ministry Md. Abdur Rouf said that no decision has been taken yet on implementing the project on a small scale or canceling it. The final decision will be taken as per the recommendations of the Trade Advisor.

Planning Advisor Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud said, “If any project is not implemented, it will be cancelled considering the economic sustainability of the government and the interests of the people.”