The industrial estate of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) in Nilphamari has become a hub for small businesses as it gives them easy access to key markets in the northern part of the country. However, the estate has experienced its fair share of adversities amid the ongoing corona virus pandemic. "Although foreign buyers are not placing orders because of the pandemic, we have continued our production in the hope that things will be better soon," said Nur Islam, a director of Selim Agro. Selim Agro, the largest factory in the BSCIC industrial estate, employed about 450 people to produce various jute goods for export to India and Nepal during the pre-pandemic era. Now, the number of workers has fallen to 300. Arman Hossain, the labour supervisor of the factory, said that unlike many mills outside the estate.
their workers were paid in a timely manner despite the current situation.
Abul Kashem, president of the BSCIC Factory Owners Association, said the Department of Environment should arrange awareness programs on safe factory operations to help tackle the Covid-19 situation.
Established on 11 acres of land in Saidpur municipality's Neyamatpur area in 1986, all 92 plots in the estate were allocated to 49 industries within a few years.
Today, the estate is home to many small enterprises, particularly from the consumer goods, light engineering, chemical, and agro-based product sectors.
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