Bangladesh will strengthen research, technology and knowledge-sharing cooperation with China to modernise the traditional silk industry to increase productivity and sustainability, Md Shariful Alam, state minister for textiles and jute, said yesterday.

Bangladesh's silk industry is one of the oldest in the world, with farmers in the northwestern border district of Rajshahi producing some of the most sought-after silk yarns.

Several of the peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts are famous for weaving. The production of traditional cloth and woven goods,