Staff Reporter:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday assured all necessary support for the development of Bangla-desh’s tea industry, increasing its production capacity, and addressing its long-standing challenges.
He also directed the relevant authorities to form a committee to achieve these objectives.
He made the assurance and the instruction at a meeting on the development of the country’s tea industry held at the Prime Minister’s Office at Bangladesh Secretariat.
Owners of tea gardens and representatives of the sector briefed the Prime Minister on the current state of the industry, rising production costs, financing constraints, increasing energy costs, and challenges in maintaining competitiveness in the international market.
They also presented a number of proposals aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the sector.
Shiplu said the Prime Minister listened attentively to the participants and described the tea industry as an important pillar of the national economy.
During the meeting, Tarique Rahman said that his government will extend the necessary policy, finan-cial, and institutional support to promote the industry’s growth.
He also assured tea garden owners that the government would facilitate the restructuring of existing loans and provide access to low-interest financing.
The Prime Minister also said the government would positively consider allowing solar power generation on uncultivable land within tea estates and assured financial support for the implementation of such re-newable energy projects.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the formation of a committee comprising representatives from the relevant ministries, divisions, and tea industry stakeholders to identify existing problems and recommend effective solutions.
Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood, Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu, Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, State Minister for Land Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sat-tar, secretaries of the concerned ministries and representatives of tea garden owners and industry associa-tions attended the meeting.
