Dhaka: Commerce Minister Khandkar Abdul Muktadir today emphasized the government's commitment to implementing a long-term plan to restore the economic viability of Bangladesh's tea sector. The minister highlighted the need for the tea industry to move beyond reliance on loans, aiming instead to become a robust sector that contributes steadily to the national economy through revenue, taxes, and VAT.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Muktadir made these comments while leading the first meeting of the advisory committee dedicated to the development of Bangladesh's tea industry. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Commerce's conference room within the Bangladesh Secretariat. The minister underscored the importance of the tea industry for the livelihoods of many workers, noting that any closure or bankruptcy of tea gardens directly impacts workers' families and local communities.
The minister pointed out the historical significance of Bangladesh as a tea-exporting nation and warned that disruptions in production could shift the country towards tea imports. He expressed confidence that coordinated efforts could address the sector's challenges, strengthening the tea industry.
During the meeting, participants proposed utilizing unused land within tea gardens for solar power projects, agriculture, and alternative afforestation without altering the gardens' core characteristics. They called for policy approval from the Ministry of Land and other relevant bodies to proceed with these initiatives.
Participants also highlighted issues such as the illegal entry of tea through border routes and direct sales outside the auction system, which disadvantage legitimate businesses and lead to substantial government revenue losses. They proposed enhanced monitoring to curb the practice and suggested rationalizing VAT and advance income tax to address the issue.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on improving management efficiency and financial capacity in tea gardens, reducing dependency on government incentives or loans. The authorities assured that garden-specific action plans would be reviewed, and necessary banking and policy support would be considered according to each garden's needs.
Attendees of the meeting included Land Secretary A S M Saleh Ahmed, Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Agriculture Secretary Md Selim Khan, Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahruk, Bangladesh Tea Board Chairman Major General Md Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, NBR Acting Chairman Ahsan Habib, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Dr Md Kabir Ahmad, Bangladesh Tea Association Chairman Kamran T Rahman, and Tea Traders Association President Shah Moinuddin Hasan.