The seven loss-incurring companies deal with producing sugar, motorcycles, hotel services, cables and glass sheets.
A big number of government run companies are not giving any dividends for many years so the stocks are providing nothing to their investors, said stock investor Abdul Alim.
Renwick Jajneswar and Usmania Glass did not provide any dividend for the last two years.
Moreover, Shyampur Sugar and Zeal Bangla Sugar have not paid any dividends in at least for the past two decades, the DSE data shows.
The state-run sugar mills are 60 years old but their economic lifespan ended at least 30 years ago, said Sanat Kumar Saha, chairman of the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC).
Thakurgaon sugar mill begins operations Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon
Thakurgaon Sugar Mill, the largest sugar mill in the northern part of the country, started its production from yesterday afternoon.
Lawmaker of Thakurgaon-1 and also presidium member of Awami League Ramesh Chandra Sen inaugurated the operation as chief guest at a programme on the mill premises.
Sugarcane crushing this season has started amid a different atmosphere as the sugarcane produced under Panchagarh and Setabganj mills are being brought to Thakurgaon for crushing. This follows Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation s decision to shut the two mills this season due to losses.
BPC is not alone.
Twenty state-owned enterprises, out of a total of 52 covered in the review, saw a decrease in net profit in the last fiscal year. Four turned unprofitable.
The SoEs made a total profit of Tk 7,519.31 crore, which was Tk 10,677.23 crore in the FY19, down 29.57 per cent year-on-year. This is the lowest profit since the FY16.
Thirteen SoEs, including those in the power sector, made positive growth in their profit on the back of an increase in the price of electricity and related services.
According to BPC sources, the import and sales of petroleum products dropped in the FY20 compared to a year ago.
Two state-sugar mills begin cane crushing
Seven others to start production as per plan Star Business Report Star Business Report
Two of the nine state-run sugar mills that are still operational began crushing sugarcane on December 11.
The two mills are North Bengal Sugar Mills and Natore Sugar Mills.
The rest seven will follow suit, according to a gazette notification from the government.
The notification came after the government recently announced that six mills under the Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) would remain closed until further notice as part of a move to modernise the facilities and ensure their future economic viability.