Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has assured to reopen the Biratnagar Jute Mill (BJM), country’s largest and oldest jute factory, as soon as possible.

PM Deuba made his commitment while talking to a delegation of General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) on Friday at his residence, said a press release issued by GEFONT. He also told that the resumption of the BJM, which closed down seven months ago, will commence before his trip to the United States.

“PM has assured that labour dispute, release of salaries and other managerial tasks will be settled soon,” told an official of GEFONT while talking to The Himalayan Times.

BJM is considered be a pioneer in industrial activity in Nepal, which was established about a century ago during the period of the Rana regime. Altogether 3,200 labour and staff were forced to leave the factory without a single penny after its closure due to heavy losses. According the release, some 6,000 children of the labour and staff have been compelled to withdraw from their schools.

The delegation led by CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari, was accompanied by acting president of Nepal Sadbhawan Party Badri Prasad Mandal, members and officials of GEFONT.