The government recently declared jute as an agricultural product, paving the way for the golden fibre to enjoy all kinds of incentives allotted for the agricultural sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture published a gazette to this effect on Sunday.
"According to the decision of the cabinet meeting held on January 9, 2023, jute, the golden fibre, was declared an agricultural product. This order will come into effect immediately as it was issued in the public interest," the gazette reads.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the cabinet meeting, where she said jute growers would get all kinds of incentives as enjoyed by other agricultural producers.
The development comes following demands from jute millers, spinners, and raw jute exporters.
Abdul Barik Khan, secretary general of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA), said as a result of this declaration, the jute sector will get the benefits that other agricultural products enjoy, such as low-interest loans, incentives, rebates on electricity bills and many others.
The recognition will help the sector improve further, he expressed the hope, saying that exports of jute and jute products will also increase.
Currently, Bangladesh makes 282 types of jute products along with traditional ones such as hessian, sackings, and yarn-twine.
