Four more products from Bangladesh have been granted approval as Geographical Indication (GI) items. These include Hari Bhanga Mango from Rangpur, Agar from Moulvibazar, sweetmeat Mondar from Muktagachha, and Agar-Attar, also known as Agar oil, from Moulvibazar,. These four have been granted GI status, as reported in a journal published on Monday. With this, the number of approved GI products in Bangladesh now stands at 28.
In 2003, the responsibility for this task in Bangladesh was placed under the Department of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (DPDT) of the Ministry of Industries. It is now referred to as the Department of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (DPDT). Following initiatives by the Ministry of Industries, the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act, 2013 was passed. Two years later, the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Rules, 2015 were enacted.
In 2016, Jamdani saree was recognised as the first GI product in Bangladesh. Subsequently, approval was granted for another 20 products.
These include Hilsa from Bangladesh, Khirsapat mango from Chapainawabganj, Sada Mati from Vijaypur, Kataribhog from Dinajpur, Kalijira from Bangladesh, Shataranj from Rangpur, Rajshahi Silk, Dhakai Muslin, Fazli Mango from Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj, Bagda shrimp from Bangladesh, Shital Pati from Bangladesh, Doi from Bogura, Tulshimala rice from Sherpur, Langra Mango from Chapai Nawabganj, Ashwina Mango from Chapai Nawabganj, Kanchagolla from Natore, Black Bengal goat from Bangladesh, Chamcham from Tangail, and Roshmalai from Comilla, and Sesame sweets from Kushtia.
Recently, copies of the approval for three more products, Tangail Saree, Amritsagar Banana from Narshingdi, and Gopalganj’s Rasgolla, were handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, Jakia Sultanah. With the publication of journals for these four GI products today, the total number of approved GI products stands at 28.
Furthermore, the process for approval as GI products is underway for two more items. These are Nakshi Kantha from Jamalpur and Khajur Gur from Jessore. It is hoped that journals for these two products will be published next week.
