Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged researchers, technologists, industrialists, businessmen and entrepreneurs to nurture intellectual properties and become partners in national development.
"I hope the country's women will come forward in the development of research, innovation and creativity. I call upon researchers, technologists, industrialists, businessmen and entrepreneurs to nurture intellectual properties and become partners in national development," she said in a message on Tuesday.
The message was issued on the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day to be observed on Wednesday.
The prime minister said there is no alternative to intellectual property in building a knowledge-based society while women plays a significant role in flourishing creativity and innovative ideas.
That is why, she said, the theme of the day this year is “Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity.”
Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government has taken and implemented various initiatives in the last 14 years for proper utilisation of intellectual properties to ensure economic, social and cultural development of the country.
Bangladesh Patent Act-2022 has already been passed in parliament and the National Innovation and Intellectual Property Policy-2018 has been formulated, she said.
"We have passed the Trademark (Amendment) Act-2015 by amending the Trademark Act-2009. Besides, the Trademark Rules-2015, the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 2013 and the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Rules-2015 have been enacted."
She said a total of 11 products, including Jamdani, Hilsa, Dhakai Muslin have been registered as geographical indication (GI) products.
Articles on yogurt of Bogura, Shitalpati of Bangladesh, Tulshimala rice of Sherpur, Ashwina mango of Chapainawabganj and Langra mango of Chapainawabganj have been published in the journal for registration as GI products, Sheikh Hasina said.
Besides, she said, 19 products are under process to get registration and the draft of the Bangladesh Arts Design Act-2023 has been formulated.
The prime minister said she wishes success of all the programmes taken on the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day.
