KATHMANDU — Biratnagar Jute Mill, Nepal’s first and government-owned jute factory, has remained closed for many years, despite its historic and political significance.

The mill holds an important place in the country’s democratic movement, with Nepali Congress operating the underground “Prajatantra Radio” from its premises in 1950. Former prime ministers Girija Prasad Koirala and Manmohan Adhikari also began their political journeys from this very site.

Although the mill is regarded as a historic industry, it has repeatedly opened and closed due to political interference. It has remained shut since 2013 (2070 BS), gradually turning into a dilapidated structure.

In the absence of proper protection, many of the mill’s assets have been stolen, while others have rusted from decades of disuse. Observers note that the mill’s decline began after the restoration of democracy in 1990 (2046 BS), as political appointments in the management committee and frequent leadership changes, driven by instability, pushed the industry to its current state.