Dhaka Bureau: Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that the ‘National Tea Award’ will be given for the first time as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Commerce and the Bangladesh Tea Board in recognition of important contributions in various fields of the tea industry in Bangladesh. Seven organizations and one individual are receiving the award in eight categories.
The National Tea Award has been established to encourage and motivate the progress of the tea industry. On the occasion of the National Tea Day-2023 celebration, he said these things at the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee to give the first ‘National Tea Award’ at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce on Monday (May 22). In the meeting chaired by the Minister of Commerce, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board Major General Md. Ashraful Islam, and representatives of various ministries, departments, and organizations, including senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce, were present.
The eight categories to be awarded are: (1) tea plantation with highest production per acre; (2) tea garden producing highest quality tea; (3) best tea exporter; (4) best small tea producer; (5) best tea garden based on worker welfare; (6) best institute or company on the basis of marketing diverse tea products; (7) best tea institute or company on the basis of attractive and quality tea packaging; and (8) best tea leaf picker (individual or worker). In the President’s speech, the Minister of Commerce said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman inaugurated the post of the first Bengali Chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board on June 4, 1957. Later, during his tenure as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, he made outstanding contributions to the country’s tea industry. National Tea Day is celebrated on June 4 every year to commemorate the contribution of the Father of the Nation to the tea industry.
He also said that in the progress of the country’s tea industry, the Bangladesh Tea Board and its stakeholders, including tea plantation owners, tea producers, and packaging and marketing companies, are greatly contributing to the national economy through their activities. It is to recognize the contributions of these institutions, organizations, and individuals that the National Tea Award has been established. Tipu Munshi said that, as a result of the various developmental activities of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, the tea industry today stands on a sustainable and strong foundation. Special emphasis is being laid on increasing quality tea production and strengthening research activities of international quality in developing technologies to meet the challenges of climate change.
The Minister of Commerce directed all concerned, including officials of the Ministry and the Bangladesh Tea Board, to continue efforts to create a new market for Bangladeshi tea in the international market by increasing the multi-purpose use of tea, modernizing the marketing process, and meeting the internal demand above all. It was decided in the meeting to celebrate the National Tea Day program this year with the tea plantation owners and workers in Srimangal and Moulvibazar. The Commerce Minister will hand over the ‘National Tea Award’ to the winners on that occasion.
