Study of Non-Wood and Forest Based Fiber Resources in Bangladesh-A Case Study on Pulp and Paper Industry, 1995 Pulping Conference Proceedings

Narayan Saha, Isao Kawata, Furukawa Yashushi - Kochi University

Recent increase of paper consumption due to the expansion of export processing industries and population increase calls for increasing the paper production in Bangladesh. But shortage of raw material is a great problem. Because the major pulp and paper industry are highly depended on dwindling forest resources. Therefore, interest is growing to explore the present status of fiber resources in Bangladesh and possible alternatives. Government sector pulp and paper industry have been selected for the study since they are the only consumers of the forest resources and major consumers of the non-wood fiber resources. The availability of forest resources is very limited for pulping. Northern regions are abundant availability of lower grade jute and appropriate sites for kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) cultivation. Procurement problems call for establishing new industry. But lacking of gas’ supply has created a problem for immediate action, which will be available by the end of this century. Jute cuttings are available at Narayanganj. Immediate actions should be undertaken for providing adequate incentives to the kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) growers of SPPM, establishing jute cuttings based paper mills near by Narayanganj, possibility study on establishing a newsprint mill at Chittagong Hill Tracts regions and sustained utilization of forest resources.