Desk Report:
Abdun Naser Khan, Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, stated that the registration of Geographical Indication (GI) products does not constitute the ultimate success. Rather, true economic prosperity for the actual producers must be ensured through the commercialization of these products, the maintenance of quality standards, and the expansion of their presence in international markets. He emphasized that Bangladesh’s traditional products must be transformed into significant future economic assets through protection, promotion, and commercialization.
He made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at a seminar titled “Commercialization of Geographical Indication (GI) Products: Prospects, Challenges, and Future Actions,” held on Thursday (October 15, 2026) at the Ministry’s conference room.
The Industries Secretary remarked, “Possessing a tradition is not the same as ensuring its legal and economic protection. It is not enough to merely preserve our heritage; we must harness it as a driving force for the economic prosperity of our people.”
He noted that traditional Bangladeshi products—such as Jamdani, Nakshi Kantha, and Fazli mangoes—are deeply intertwined with the nation’s history, culture, and the livelihoods of its people. Any delay in securing legal protection for these items could complicate the establishment of their distinct identities in the international market. Therefore, priority must be given to proper documentation, GI registration, quality assurance, and branding.
Abdun Naser Khan stated, “GI registration is not the final destination; it is merely the beginning of the journey. True success will be achieved when producers receive fair prices, markets expand, and the reputation of these traditional products remains untarnished by the emergence of counterfeit goods.”
He further added that for the successful commercialization of GI products, it is essential to develop an effective value chain encompassing production, quality control, packaging, branding, origin identification, marketing, and the expansion of exports. Market expansion must be pursued while preserving the uniqueness, heritage, and geographical characteristics of the products, ensuring that commercial benefits reach the actual producers, artisans, and local communities.
Outlining three key expected outcomes from the seminar, the Industries Secretary stated: first, traditional products requiring Geographical Indication (GI) protection must be identified; second, priority must be given to the commercialization of products that have already been registered; and third, a realistic action plan—complete with specific timelines and clearly defined responsibilities for the relevant institutions—must be formulated.
He remarked, “We envision ‘GI Bangladesh’ as more than just a geographical identifier; it should become a symbol of uniqueness, quality, and trust.”
The keynote paper at the seminar was presented by Barrister Sarawat Siraj Shukla, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Other speakers included Md. Jahangir Hossain, Director General of the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks; Md. Nuruzzaman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry; Monira Imdad, proprietor of Tangail Sari Kutir; Barrister Imam Hossain Sydney, a senior advocate at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; Abdur Razzak Majumder, a lecturer in the Department of Law at the University of Dhaka; as well as various institutional representatives and subject-matter experts.
