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The High Court on Monday directed the authorities concerned to submit a list of products already registered as Geographical Indications (GI) and those suitable for local and international GI registration.
The order was issued by a High Court bench comprising Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir after reviewing a writ petition filed by Barrister Shukla Sarwat Siraj, a Supreme Court lawyer, on February 18.
The High Court also issued a rule demanding an explanation for the inaction of both national and international respondents in identifying, registering, and protecting the Geographical Indications (GI) of natural and agricultural products, handicrafts, and foodstuff originating from Bangladesh. The court questioned the legality of this inaction.
The respondents, including the Industries Secretary, Commerce Secretary, Textiles and Jute Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, Cultural Affairs Secretary, Director General of the Department of Patents Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), Chairman of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Chairman of Bangladesh Handloom Board (BHB), and others, have been instructed to adhere to the rule.
GI is a sign used on goods that has a specific quality, reputation, or other characteristics attributable to its geographic origin and the goods must be produced, processed or prepared in the defined geographical area using recognised techniques.
GIs are developed to boost a country's local and root level entrepreneurs by giving them both horizontal and vertical protection. GIs are typically used for agricultural products, food items, handicrafts, wine and spirit drinks and industrial products.
The issue came to the fore after West Bengal of India had been awarded the geographical indication (GI) tag for Tangail saree. The decision has stirred up a considerable amount of debate and concern.
Originating from the Tangail district in Bangladesh, Tangail saree has been a part of our cultural heritage for ages. However, on February 1, 2024, India's Ministry of Culture wrote in a post on Facebook, "The Tangail saree, originating from West Bengal, is a traditional hand-woven masterpiece."
The writ petition said that although Bangladesh has thousands of products fit to be registered as GI products, however it has registered the GI right of only 21 products since enactment of the GI Act 2013.
GI registration helps in protecting the interests of the original products by preventing others from using the GI tag for their products. The core benefit of GI is that it adds value to the brand and this GI tagging opens up the door of global branding for a product, also read the writ petition.
"By a GI, the manufacturer establishes the image of the product to the global consumers and is capable of promoting the products and increasing their demand in the market. In terms of fiscal benefit, a GI tagging helps fetch higher prices compared to similar products manufactured elsewhere.
But the respondents without considering these aspects failed to take appropriate steps to identify, register and protect the GI of goods that are attributable to Bangladesh as their place of origin nationally and internationally, which cannot be tenable in the eye of law," the writ petition said.