Over the 32 years since 1982 as many as 134 Jute and textile mills of the public sector have been disinvested of this 48 mills and factories were handed over to private sector during the ministership of Abdul Latif Siddique alone. Investigation revealed that all these transfer processes were conducted illegally. Among these, the price of land alone of three factories is taka 3000 crore. But theseindustries were handed over at a throughway price. Following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive Sunday last the ministry concerned has initiated the process of taking back over 100 industrial units to the government ownership including the 48 units handed over during the period when Latif Siddique was the minister. Among them 70 mills disinvested in violation of the agreement with the government are non-existent, they exist only in paper. On the land of these mills various establishments including housing have grown up now. Eagle Star Textile Mills, situated at north Kaltali in Pahertali of Chittagong was nationalized in 1972, but in 1985 it was handed over to former owner Taher Group. For this condition was imposed to pay taka 1 crore 37 lakh to the government. As the Taher Group did not make any repayment for long the liability including capital and interest rose to taka 6 crore 62 lakh. But on behalf of Taher group one Sultana Rashid during the ministership of a son-in-law of their area Abdul Latif Siddique applied to the ministry for exemption of the dues and liabilities. Then a note was placed from the section concerned of the ministry that the ministry has no authority to exempt dues and liabilities. In this case opinion of cabinet sub-committee on financial matters has to be sought. When the file was placed before Latif Siddique, he gave written decision on the file that it was not right to impose the liabilities of this mill on the owner by the government. So, the original capital and interest can be exempted. After such decision of minister Latif Siddique an order was issued from the ministry to release only Tk 1 crore 37 lakh of outstanding Tk 6 crore 62 lakh from the private owner within 7 days. But this amount has not yet come to the government exchequer. But the private owner is occupying and utilizing the mill. The mill is closed since 2001. The private owner is earning lakhs of taka as rent from different establishments who are using the sheds as godowns. There are more such instances of irregularities committed during the previous portfolio of Latif Siddique. While holding a meeting at the ministry of industries, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed the officials concerned to recover the state-owned mills and factories which were handed over to private sector illegally through breach of contract. Replying to a query, state minister for textiles and jute Mirza Azam said “We have already started necessary steps about the mills which were bought from the government and yet to go into operation in violation of terms and condition.” He is optimistic about bringing back the factories if cooperation from all concerned is available. He said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) termed the handing over of mills during the tenure of Latif Siddique as illegal. Referring to the comment of law ministry on handover of two mills, Mirza Azam said the process was unlawful and process of bringing back those has started. Ministry sources said 134 mills including 38 textile mills and 35 jute mills were handed over to private sector. Of those, 70 mills are virtually non-existent now. The Privatisation Commission handed over 16 of those. The lessees took the mills on condition to resume operation. After selling the parts and accessories, they used the mills for another purpose. Even they removed the signboards of the mills. As the ministry preserves the papers and documents of the land, it will be able to locate the properties and redeem it. Latif Siddique allegedly handed over 48 industries including three big textile mills to private sector during a period from 2009 to 2013. Eight of those mills were handed over by BTMC, two by Bangladesh Hand Loom Board, three by labour-employee management, three by liquidation cell, one by BJMC and 31 by now defunct BJC. No rule and regulation were followed in the process of handing over. Although every such mill was the most valuable asset for the government, Latif Siddique unilaterally took the decision to hand over the properties for his personal interest showing utter disregard to the dissenting view of other officials concerned. A report of PMO says Latif Siddique handed over the mills without taking into consideration the Privatisation Policy 2000. Neither the decision was approved by the cabinet nor by the PM. It is learnt that Ek Dosto Textile at Ranirhat under Feni has been shut due to loss. A tender was invited to sell 12.71 acres of land out of 21.47 showing it to be superfluous in 2007. The bidders wanted to pay Tk 2, 71, 33,000. After seven years, Latif Siddique handed over the mill to the previous bidder. But the negligible amount was not paid by the bidder. In such a way not only the Feni’s Dosto Textile Mill, Latif Siddique alone has finalised the process of selling all the industrial organisations under the textiles and jute ministry. Many of the private mill owners who purchased their mills at lesser prices have filed cases with High Court against the government in saving their organisations. Many of them have also got the verdict in favour of them with the help of public prosecutors. Ministry sources said a Textile Facilities Centre (TFC) under the ministry concerned was established in 1963 at Chaumuhani in Noakhali. The value of permanent resource including three bighas of land was estimated at Tk 8 crore 44 lakh 74 thousand by Chartered Accountant Firm. Only the price of the land of the organisation stood at Tk 7.10 crore through a tender invitation in 2003. But as a minister Latif Siddique handed over the acquired land of the organisation to the then landowners in exchange for only Tk 59lakh on May 24, 2011. Bhaluka Ullen Mills Limited is situated at Nasirabad in Chittagong. The mill produced wool, socks and blanket. The mill was handed over to the privatisation commission to privatise the mill on March 25, 2012. But the 3.9 acres of land out of 10.67 of this establishment was declared surplus by BTMC. As this land was handed over to the Privatisation Commission, the finance minister made a request not to hand over this land to private sector but the finance minister’s request was turned down. But the land of this textile industry was handed over to the M/S Smart Zones. In such a way, Latif Siddique handed over the land of 11 jute mills of Bangladesh Jute Corporation to the private sector. The three larger textile mills including Kustia’s Mohini Textile Mills Ltd, Gazipur’s Muslin Cotton Mills Ltd and Comilla’s Chisty Textile Mills were handed over to the private sector at nominal prices.
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