M.Muslim Chowdhury, Srimangal/Moulvibazar/Representative/

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi MP said that the country’s tea industry is progressing towards sustainable development as a result of the continuation of all the groundbreaking initiatives of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the implementation of various plans of the present government. Under the shadow of Bangladesh Tea Board, the indefatigable workers associated with this industry are playing a big role along with the tea producers and marketers in order to move the country’s tea industry forward.
He said that various government ministries, private institutions and garden owners are working to ensure a labor-friendly working environment in this labor-intensive industry. The tea industry should be taken forward with the collective efforts of all.

He said these things while addressing the Chief Guest at the 3rd National Tea Day Celebration and National Award Ceremony at the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) High School grounds in Srimangal on Sunday (June 4) noon. The 3rd National Tea Day 2023 has been celebrated in a grand manner at Srimangal of Moulvibazar, the famous state of tea, with the direct participation of tea workers, a very important part of the tea industry, being given utmost importance.

Minister of Commerce Tipu Munshi MP spoke as the chief guest in the meeting. Former chief whiff, vice-principal said as a special guest. Md: Abdus Shaheed MP.

Chairman of Bangladesh Tea Board Major General Md. Ashraful Islam NDC, PSC gave welcome speech on the occasion.

Chairman of Moulvibazar Zilla Parishad Alhaj Michbahur Rahman, President of FBCCI Md Jasim Uddin, President of Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh Shah Moinuddin Hasan, President of Bangladeshi Tea Sangsad Kamran T Rahman and ordinary tea workers also spoke under the chairmanship of Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. Nirpen Pal, General Secretary (Acting) of Bangladesh Tea Workers Union spoke.

Vice Principal Dr. Md. Abdus Shahid MP said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given tea workers various opportunities including increase in daily wages. All concerned in the development of the tea industry have made it important to ensure a worker-friendly working environment. Therefore, for the development of the tea industry and the economic prosperity of the country, everyone including tea garden owners and marketers should develop a worker-friendly tea industry.
National Tea Awards 2023 were awarded to various tea companies/individuals in 8 categories in recognition of their contribution to the tea industry of the country at the end of the discussion meeting. At this time, Minister of Commerce Tipu Munshi MP and other guests presented the award trophy and house.
The categories awarded are Srimangal’s Rent Ura Estate with highest production per acre (Finlay Tea Company), Madhupur Tea Estate with highest quality tea production (Kedarpur Tea Company), Best Tea Exporter (Abul Khair Consumer Products Ltd.), Best Smallholder Tea. Producer Md. Anwar Sadat Samrat (Panchgarh), Best Tea Garden based on Labor Welfare-Zerin Tea Garden (Ispahani Tea Company), Best Company based on Marketing of Variety of Tea Products (Kazi & Kazi Tea Estate Ltd.), Best on Marketing of Variety of Tea Products Tea Company (Green Field Tea Industries Ltd.) and Best Tea Leaf Picker Tea Workers Uplakshi Tripura-Neptune Tea Garden (Ispahani Tea Company). The presence of tea garden owners, workers and people related to tea industry in the event was eye-catching. After awarding the prizes, the chief guest and special guests visited the various stalls of the day-long tea fair organized on the school grounds on the occasion of Tea Day. Tea fairs are displayed and sold by different companies. There were also displays of rare artefacts of the tea industry housed in the Bangabandhu Pavilion and the Srimalastha Tea Museum. The tea fair was open for visitors throughout the day. Incidentally, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assumed responsibility as the first Bengali Chairman of the Tea Board on June 4, 1957. He served as the Chairman of the Tea Board till 23 October 1958. The day is celebrated every year as ‘National Tea Day’ to commemorate the day (June 4) on which he took charge as the Chairman of the Tea Board. The first commercial tea cultivation was started in 1854 in Sylhet’s Malnichara tea garden. Gradually the tea industry started to develop as one of the most promising industries in the region. The progress of the tea industry in this region of the subcontinent under British rule in the middle of the 19th century was mainly through the British.