National Jute Day 2023 will be observed on Monday in the country with a view to making jute goods popular among the people.
This year's theme of the day is “Contribution of Jute Industry - Building Smart Bangladesh (Pat Shilper Obodan - Smart Bangladesh Binirman).”
On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the people involved with the jute sector.
In their messages, they hoped that jute will play a positive role in the economic growth of the nation as well as the protection of the environment.
President Abdul Hamid in his message urged all concerned to take effective initiatives to increase the production of eco-friendly jute products for flourishing the jute industry of the country.
"I welcome the initiative of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute to observe the 'National Jute Day 2023'," he said.
The head of the state hoped this initiative will help accelerate the development of the jute sector as the history and tradition of Bangladesh are deeply involved with “golden fibre” jute.
Jute and jute-made products are recognised as eco-friendly products at home and abroad as they uphold the local culture of the country, Abdul Hamid said.
In the context of global climate change, the use of natural fibre jute and jute products as an alternative to polythene and plastic can play a positive role in the economic enlargement of the country alongside ensuring environmental protection, he added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the “golden fibre (Sonali Ash)” jute is an important cash crop in Bangladesh.
Noting that the jute sector is one of the foreign exchange earning sectors of the country, she said this sector is an effective tool for Bangalees for their economic emancipation.
Sheikh Hasina also said jute is also playing an important role in the socio-economic development of the country, poverty alleviation, women's empowerment and employment generation.
After the independence of the country, the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took multifaceted effective steps for the development of the jute industry.
The ongoing patronage of the Awami League government has been able to restore the lost heritage of the jute sector and make it more prosperous, she said.
Jute product has been declared “Product of the Year 2023” while jute is recognised as an agricultural product with the aim of creating the interest of farmers in jute cultivation, increasing the use of jute and jute products in domestic and international markets and highlighting the bright potential of golden fibre globally, she said.
11 individuals, orgs to be awarded
The government will award 11 individuals and entities under as many as categories on National Jute Day.
At a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday, Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi said the award will be given for their contribution to the achievement of the government’s development target through research activities in the jute sector’s development, reducing dependency on importing jute seeds, achieving viability in jute seed production, and increasing the production and exports of conventional and versatile jute products.
Besides, seven felicitation mementoes will also be given to the stakeholders, he added.
The minister said through the Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC), the government has put emphasis on the innovation and expansion of the use of versatile jute products.
