Govt recognises 'Tangail Saree' as GI product
Senior Secretary of the Industries Ministry Zakia Sultana today (7 February) said a gazette notification will be issued tomorrow in this regard
The Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under the Ministry of Industries has recognised the Tangail Saree as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of the country.
Confirming the matter to the media on Wednesday, the Ministry of Industries Senior Secretary Zakia Sultana said DPDT recognised the product per the norms of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The decision follows recent public discourse surrounding India's tagging of the Tangail Saree as a GI product originating in West Bengal.
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Earlier in a meeting on February 5, the senior secretary emphasised the need for swift processing of all pending GI applications, including those for Tangail's Tant Sharee, Madhupur's Pineapple, Narsingdi's Latkan, Sagar Banana, and Bhola's buffalo yoghurt.
She stressed the importance of adhering to strict protocols and avoiding any negligence in this matter.
Highlighting that Bangladesh currently boasts 21 recognised GI products, she further said that deputy commissioners across the country have been urged to identify and submit applications for additional products or goods originating from their respective districts.
Upon the GI identification and recognition, the Ministry of Industries will undertake branding initiatives to promote these products.
With the inclusion of the Tangail Saree, the total number of GI products in Bangladesh now stands at 22.
The global recognition granted to GI products underscores their economic significance, prompting countries to actively pursue GI status for their unique offerings.
However, complications arise when multiple countries lay claim to the same product, as evident in the recent case of the Tangail Saree.
On 2 January, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India granted GI recognition to the product.
However, the issue came to the fore after a post on the verified Facebook page of the Ministry of Culture of India on 1 February, announcing the recognition. The ministry claimed that Tangail Saree originated in West Bengal.
