DHAKA: Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu threatened that the allocation of plots will be cancelled if their owners fail to transfer the factories to Savar Tannery Palli within the stipulated time.

The industries minister came up with the forewarning while talking to journalists after a meeting in industries ministry on Wednesday.

Amu said the government has finalized their preparation of transferring tannery and some owners have already shifted their factories there.

He also told the journalists that factories should be setup there within the scheduled date as the ETP construction work will be complete in March.

Date of the construction of plots for factories will end this month.

He also threatened that those who will be unable to transfer their factories, their plots will be reallocated to other entrepreneurs.

However, Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) President Shahin Alam said the government has fixed March next as the factory transfer date.

Works for infrastructural construction of 104 plots have already been started but works for another 41 plots have not been launched yet.

“We hope that the production will commence from June,” he said.

Shahin Alam also said famous brands from Europe and America have stopped buying leather goods from Bangladesh. 

They alleged that Bangladesh have been polluting the environment through tannery.

So, the government decided to transfer the tannery from city’s Hazaribagh area to Savar for their own interest.

Environment and forests minister Anwar Hossain Manju, ministry secretary, higher officials from industries ministry, BUET consultants and foreign contractors were among others present at the meeting.

BDST: 1845 HRS, SEP 10, 2014