Dhaka, Jan. 27 -- The country's jute mill owners have threatened to shut their mills across the country from February 1 unless the government takes effective steps against raw-jute hoarding and ensure a steady supply of raw materials.

The Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) and Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association (BJSA) made the warning in a joint letter to the adviser of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute on Monday.

In the letter, the associations said since the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, normal production at jute mills has been seriously disrupted due to an acute shortage of raw jute.

According to them, the prices of raw jute have risen sharply because of exporting the same, thus making it difficult for mills to buy jute as...