BANDARBAN, Nov 19, 2020 (BSS) – Commerce Secretary Md Jafar Uddin
today said that Bangladesh would sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
with Bhutan this December which is expected to facilitate duty-free
import and export operations between the two countries.
The Commerce Secretary said this while addressing at a function as
chief guest at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office
here today with Additional Deputy Commissioner M Shafiul Alam in the
chair.
Additional Secretary (export) of the Commerce Ministry M Obaidul
Azam, Bangladesh Tea Board (finance and trade) member Dr Naznin Kawser
Chowdhury, Additional SP M Reza Sarwar, Poura Mayor Mohammad Islam
Baby and Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman AKM Jahangir spoke, among
others, at the programme.
Highlighting the potentials of tea cultivation in Bandarban, Jafar
said Bangladesh Tea Board has been working for ensuring welfare and
betterment of the tea farmers of this hilly district. “We want that
the tea of Bandarban becomes a brand for the whole of the country and
thus export it abroad.”
Bandarban Tea Farmers Welfare Association President Mongkoching
Chowdhury, general secretary Yakub Shikder, Bandarban Press Club
President Monirul Islam Monu, general secretary Minarul Huq,
Bangladesh Tea Board regional office project director Sumon Shikder
and other tea traders and farmers were present.
Later, the Commerce Secretary inaugurated the tea saplings
plantation programme at “Douthon” small-scale tea garden at Saronpara
in Sadar Upazila under the management of Tea Board.
Jafar also inaugurated the “Camellia Khola Akash School” operated
by the Tea Board and inaugurated a training workshop for the tea
farmers.