ABSTRACT
The extent of the public enterprise sector in Bangladesh is large by any standard, particularly in industry, energy, transport, finance and exports. There are about fifty enterprises, many of which were established shortly after independence in 1972 or after liberation, through nationalisation of concerns previously owned by non-Bangladeshis. In the industrial sector, five public enterprises account for about 75 per cent of total production and a similar share of total employment. Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, responsible for the operation of nearly eight jute mills and employing about 200,000 people, accounts for about 30 per cent of total industrial production. In the field of energy, public enterprises account for 100 per cent of economic activity which includes Petrobangla, responsible for the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas; Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, responsible for importation of crude oil and refined products and the operation of a refinery; and Bangladesh Power Development Board for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
