, June 29 -- The government has initiated steps to revive closed state-owned textile and jute mills through public-private partnerships (PPP) and private leasing as part of its election manifesto, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir told Parliament on Monday.

Replying to a starred question from Jamaat MP Mohammad Moslehuddin Farid (Jashore-2), the minister said Bangladesh currently has 25 state-owned textile mills under the Bangladesh Textile Mills Corporation (BTMC), while the private sector has around 1,780 spinning, weaving and dyeing-finishing mills affiliated with the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).

He also said there are 266 licensed jute mills across the country, including 25 state-owned mills under t...