Manir Hossain, Narayanganj :
Country’s first ever mini-garment factory, set up in Narayanganj District Jail to facilitate income-generating activities, was inaugurated on Wednesday morning. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal formally opened the Resilience Garments Industry and Jamdani Production Center inside the jail at around 11:00am.
The garment factory was built on 5,000 square feet of area with the help of the district administration and the Department of Social Services.
The milestone initiative will facilitate the prisoners to earn money employing their labour while serving jail term and to learn skills.
Some 300-400 prisoners trained by Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) will be able to work in the mini-garment factory in two shifts, said Narayanganj Jail Superintendent Subhas Kumar Ghosh.
The earnings of the prisoners will be credited in their respective accounts. They can send the money to their families or withdraw the entire amount together while leaving the jail, he said. Earlier on May 30 last, work on the garment factory was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Rabbi Miah.
While opening a display and sale centre for the jail products at the jail gate, he also laid the foundation stone of a training and rehabilitation centre inside the jail.
A total of 57 machines, including sewing and embroidery ones imported from abroad, were installed in the factory, said the Jail Super. There is a plan to import the fabrics to produce garments in the jail as well as other handicrafts he said.
The jail authorities have also taken some other initiatives to create income generating activities for the prisoners and to rehabilitate them.
As part of the initiative, six looms have already been installed inside the jail where 12 prisoners are working for producing Jamdani fabrics while 20-25 are producing bed sheets.
DC Rabbi Miah in a recent programme said the mini-garment factory would be a milestone as the prisoners will get a means to pass their time in a good wayand to earn at the same time.
