PRAN-RFL, a leading Bangladeshi industrial group, has been granted management of two textile mills of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC) under a Public-Private Partnership agreement.
The handover took place on Sunday (October 27) at a signing ceremony held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, attended by Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain, Adviser to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and Ministry of Shipping, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute Md Abdur Rauf, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, and BTMC Chairman Brigadier General Md Ziaul Haque.
Under this PPP arrangement, PRAN-RFL will oversee operations at RR Textile Mills in Chattogram and Rajshahi Textile Mills, which have been rebranded as Chittagong RR Textiles Limited and Barendra Rajshahi Textiles Limited, respectively.
Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain expressed optimism, saying, “I appreciate PRAN-RFL's initiative, and I believe these mills will provide significant employment opportunities and grow into notable brands.”
PRAN-RFL Group Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury highlighted plans to quickly resume operations, envisioning employment for thousands.
“We have committed to a 30-year term, expecting to launch within a month. Our vision is to establish green factories that utilise every inch of space, including solar panels on vacant areas, contributing to sustainable growth,” he said.
He also shared plans for Barendra Rajshahi Textile Mills, poised to become the largest in North Bengal, which will create local job opportunities, reducing the need for northern residents to relocate to Dhaka for work.
Secretary Md Abdur Rauf congratulated PRAN-RFL on its selection, noting that the agreement includes a 30-year term with an option for a 10-year extension. The Chattogram mill spans 19 acres, while the Rajshahi mill covers 26 acres.
The Secretary added, "PRAN Group will modernise these mills, with expected employment for nearly 10,000 people over the next five years."
This partnership is anticipated to revitalise the mills and foster local employment and industry growth.