Introduction to Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA)
Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA) was established in 1949 as a sister organization of Narayanganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It emerged as an independent organization in 1949 as Pakistan Jute Association (PJA) on 13th March 1959. After the emergence of Bangladesh this organization was renamed Bangladesh Jute Association (BJA). BJA is a National Representative body of all jute traders and exporters in the private sector. The number of members are about 500. The member exporter of raw jute export to as many as 35 countries of the world. Every year the exporters export raw jute at a tune of about 20 lakh bales amounting to Tk. about 2000 (Two Thousand) crore and contribute a lot to the national economy.
The member exporter of BJA directly purchase raw jute from the jute growers and bring to terminal market i.e. to the press house where the hydraulic pucca press installed for making pucca bales weighing 180 kg (value addition). This is done after pucca assortment by the assorters (value addition). As a result a large number of labourers are involved in assortment and making pucca bales. Before shifting kutcha bales (weighing 150 kg) to the Secondary market from the primary market, kutcha assorters assort the jute and make kutcha bales weighing 150 kg and send them to the terminal market for processing and export. BJA plays the vital role for regulating the jute market both in home and abroad. It helps ensure fair price to the jute growers who produce 100% export oriented product.