Ensuring Rights to Traditional Products
Draft act to be finalised by January: Dilip Barua
The government will finalise the draft of "Geographical Indication (GI) Act of Bangladesh" within January to ensure entitlement to the country's traditional products and protect the reputation of these products against piracy, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said on Thursday.
GI is a name or sign used on certain products referring to a specific geographical location or the country of origin. It certifies that a product possesses certain quality, is made according to traditional methods or enjoys a certain reputation just because it belongs to a specific geographic location.
“In the absence of the GI act, Bangladesh is going to lose its rights to some traditional products such as Jamdani sari, Nakshikatha and Fazli mango,” said Rafiuddin Ahmed, an assistant professor of the marketing department, Dhaka University.
India has already got entitlement of these products as its own traditional goods under its GI act, he told a discussion at the business studies faculty, DU. Compared to other countries, Bangladesh is behind in recognising these products, he said.
“Bangladesh's government should be careful to address this imperative issue to promote local products and save our heritage."
The minister said, “The government will give importance to recognise the producers or community of different geographical locations, which have earned fame by making products with special qualities and characteristics."
The draft has been posted on the ministry website to take comments from experts and stakeholders before finalising it, he said.
Head of News of Channel 24 Abdun Noor Tushar said the government should finalise the act as early as possible, while Chairperson of Department of Marketing Razia Begum said it was very necessary for the people of Bangladesh to know about this act.
Build Better Bangladesh, a platform of students of the DU marketing department, hosted the discussion.
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