Ahsanul Amin George, Khulna :
The first and only Hardboard Mill of the country, located at Khalishpur industrial area in Khulna city, has been remained closed for four years due to fund crisis. As such, workers and staffs went in another places or their village homes. Some of them have been suffering inhuman lives by losing jobs. Khulna inhabitants sought for reopening the Mill as early as possible.
On a recent visit, this correspondent found that rusty tins of the Mill were hanging, larger portions of the rusty locks disappeared and machinery parts became unused. Bushes inside the Mill area were also found. The whole area looks like a jungle house . But once this Mill has a glorious history. Many people maintain their families by working here. Once upon a time, goalpata and wood were laden here from Hardboard ghat.
However, Khulna Hardboard Mill is now standing beside the river Bhairab like an statue as the witness of time. Required hardboards were made from this Mill which could demand of the whole country.
Sources said, Canadian Commercial Corporation established Khulna Hardboard Mill upon around 10 acres of land in 1965 at Khalishpur industrial area beside the river Bhairab in Khulna city. Since then the Mill ran with reputation. But in 2002 it stopped for the first time. In 2005 it ran again and in 2012 the Mill was shut down on the plea of fund crisis which is still remained closed. Lutfar Rahman, the security guard, told this correspondent that he had worked around 15 years in the Mill.
Rail slippers made from the Mill were notable, while the Mill was running, the area was crowded, Khalishpur industrial area was developed, at least 300 employees worked here, some of them worked as master roll basis who became unemployed after the closing the Mill, he added.
Khulna inhabitants including different professional bodies, development organizations and traders sought for immediate reopening of Khulna Hardboard Mill.
