The government, for the first time, will recognize one individual and seven organizations for their contribution to Bangladesh's tea industry.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Monday made the announcement at a meeting of the National Tea Award scrutiny committee, held at the conference room of the ministry in the capital Dhaka.
The minister said that they have decided to award the National Tea Award to encourage and motivate the progress of the tea industry.
The categories for the awards are top tea producing garden, top tea producing garden in terms of quality, top tea exporter, top small-scale tea producing garden, top tea garden in terms of workers' welfare, top company in terms of marketing of tea varieties, top company in terms of quality packaging and top tea-leaf picker (individual/worker).
He also said that in the progress of the country's tea industry, the Bangladesh Tea Board and its partners, including tea garden owners, tea producers and packaging marketing companies, are contributing greatly to the national economy through their respective activities.
The minister mentioned that the decision to give the National Tea Award has been made to recognize the contribution of these institutions or organizations and individuals.
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 commerce minister gave instructions to all concerned including officials of the ministry and Bangladesh Tea Board to continue the 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.
A decision was taken in the meeting to celebrate the National Tea Day program this year with the tea plantation owners, workers and all concerned at Srimangal in Moulvibazar. The commerce minister will hand over the prize to the winners of the National Tea Award on the occasion.
