Photo : BSS

RAJSHAHI, April 28, 2025 (BSS) - Rajshahi Textile Mills (RTM) is going to be reactivated formally as 'Barendra Rajshahi Textile Limited' very soon after around 25 years of closure. 

PRAN-RFL Group, the country's leading business conglomerate, has taken the initiative of re-launching the state-owned mill under private-public partnership (PPP) in collaboration with Bangladesh Textile Mill Corporation (BTMC).

Test production has already begun at the factory and it will be inaugurated formally very soon. 

Kamruzzaman Kamal, Marketing Director at PRAN-RFL Group, revealed this at a meet the press event organized to mark the launching of the mill at the Master Chef Restaurant in the city today. 

He said they want to turn this factory, located on around 26 acres of land at the Nawdapara area in the city, into the largest environment-friendly industrial enterprise in the country's northwest region.

The factory will be 100 percent export-oriented. Various bags, shoes and ready-made garments will be manufactured here. Additionally, a modern call centre will be established soon. 

An investment plan of about Taka 350 crore has been undertaken to provide employment to 12,000 people within two years.

Kamal said "We have to come out of the Dhaka-centric perspective for the sake of overall development of the country. That is why we have started this large industrial project in Rajshahi. Through this, thousands of people of Rajshahi will get employment opportunities and thus, the local economy will benefit from this initiative." 

"This factory will be a fully sustainable green industrial park, which will have solar energy, green zones and water recycling systems", he continued. 

In his remarks, Anisur Rahman, Executive Director of Multi-line Industries Limited, a sister concern of PRAN-RFL Group, said "We have repaired the abandoned shed of the factory and started manufacturing shoes and bags on a small scale employing around 1,000 people from this region."

Apart from this, the process of hiring another 1,000 people is underway. A 'Skill Development Centre' will be set up soon to enhance the skill of local workers. 

One of the objectives of this investment is to curb the trend towards the capital by utilizing the labor market of Rajshahi.

"We are optimistic that if this project is successful, we will be able to move forward with larger investments and expansion in the region in the future," he added. 

At present, PRAN-RFL Group has two factories in Rajshahi - Barendra Industrial Park and PRAN Agro Limited - where about 1,200 people have been employed.

Deputy General Manager (Public Relations) of PRAN-RFL Group, Touhiduzzaman, and Assistant General Manager of Barendra Rajshahi Textile Limited Factory, Sharif Uddin Ahmed, among other senior officials, were present at the event.