Crescent Jute Mills

Crescent Jute Mill was the second largest jute mill in Bangladesh after Adamjee Jute Mills.[1] It was owned by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation.[2][3]

History

Crescent Jute Mill was established in 1956 on 113 acres in Khulna District.[1] It had 1,100 looms imported from James Mackie & Sons.[1] Crescent Secondary School was established for workers of the mill who lived in the workers colony on the premises of the mill.[1] It was established with the support of Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation.[4] It received funding from the Aga Khan IV.[5]

At the end of Bangladesh Liberation War, the Mukti Bahini entered Khulna on 17 December 1971 through the Crescent Jute Mill.[6] Non-Bengali employees of the mill were killed during the war in the mill during violent confrontation between Bengalis and non-Bengalis.[7][8] Ferdousi Priyabhashini, a Bengali employee of the mill and a Birangana, was kept in the mill and raped by Pakistan Army for the duration of the war.[9]

In June 2008, workers of Crescent Jute Mill and Star Jute Mills protested outside the factories in Khulna demanding due wages.[10]

Workers at Crescent Jute Mill and eight other jute mills in Khulna went on strike with 11 demands.[11]

In July 2020, the government of Bangladesh closed the jute mill citing operating expenses and losses.[1] The decision was criticized as it came during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.[12] At the time of closure there were six thousand workers at the mill.[1] Equipment and goods were stolen from the mill since its closure.[13] Jahangir Kabir Nanak, minister of jute and textile, in May 2024 said the government is exploring reopening closed jute mills including Crescent Jute Mill.[14]