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Also known as the Golden
fiber, Jute is a natural fiber comprised with silky and golden
shine. It is one of the most cheapest and economical vegetable fiber
after cotton, obtained from the skin or bast of plant's stem.
Recyclable, 100% bio degradable and eco friendly jute has low
extensibility and high tensile strength. Jute is the versatile
natural fiber widely used as a raw material in many textile, non
textile, packaging, construction and agricultural applications.
Ancient period Jute
During the era of great Mughal emperor Akbar, poor villagers of
India were used to wear jute clothes. Since ancient times, ropes and
twines, used by Bengali Indians are made up of white jute for varied
household applications. Also, Chinese paper makers have used all
forms of plants like jute, hemp, cotton to make paper.
Time period from 17th century
From the 17th century to the middle of 20th century, the British
empire authority was delegated by the British East India company
which was the first jute trader. The raw jute was traded by this
company. During the start of 20th century, Margaret Donnelly I was a
jute mill landowner in Dundee who had set up first jute mill in
India. The first consignment of Jute was exported by East India
company in the year 1793. In the country, Scotland, flax spinners
were trying to learn whether jute can be mechanically processed. In
the beginning of year 1830, Dundee spinners have determined spinning
of Jute yarn by transfiguring their power driven flax machinery.
This leads to increase in the export and production of raw jute from
Indian sub-continent which was the single supplier of jute.
Time period from year 1855
The major jute growing areas were mainly in Bengal at the Kolkata
side. When Mr. George Acland had brought jute spinning machinery
from Dundee to India, the first power driven weaving factory was
established at Rishra, on the River Hooghly near Calcutta in year
1855. By the year 1869, five mills were established with around 950
looms. The growth was so fast that, by the year 1910, 38 companies
were operating around 30,685 looms, rendering more than a billion
yards of cloth and over 450 million bags. Till the middle of year
1880, jute industry has acquired almost whole Dundee and Calcutta.
Later in 19th century, manufacturing of jute has started in other
countries also like in France, America, Italy, Austria, Russia,
Belgium and Germany.
Time period from 19th century till 1947
Outstanding expansion in jute industry has been noticed in the 19th
century. Through out the year 1939, around 68,377 looms were
established on the River Hooghly near Calcutta. The prime
commodities woven by jute are coarse bagging materials, produced by
finer fabrics also known as hessian or burlap. The hand looms
established in Calcutta, give this place wold class leadership in
burlap and other bagging materials.
Time period after the year 1947
After getting Independence, most of the Jute barons had started to
quit India, leaving the set up of jute mills. Most of them were
taken by Marwaris businessmen. During the year 1947, after the
partitioning, East Pakistan had the finest stock of jute. The
tension had already begun between India and Pakistan, now Pakistani
people felt the need of jute industry. From then onwards, different
groups of Pakistani families have joined the jute business by
establishing many mills in Narayanganj. The Pakistani were in
general, Bawanis, Adamjees, Ispahanis and Dauds. In the year 1971,
the liberation of Bangladesh took place from Pakistan, thus most of
the jute mills were taken over by the Bangladesh government. Later,
government had built BJMC ( Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation ) to
control and handle jute mills of Bangladesh.
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