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a year ago

Delhi's help sought to develop rubber industry

Representational photo
Representational photo

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Dhaka has sought Delhi's cooperation in developing the country's rubber industry, officials said.

Bangladesh Rubber Board (BRB) recently requested the Rubber Board in India in this regard. The BRB also requested the Indian side to visit rubber cultivation and related areas in Bangladesh.

The request letter was sent through the Foreign Ministry.

The BRB, a newly formed body, has been functioning independently since April, 2019.

Rubber plantation/cultivation started in Bangladesh in 1960-61 by importing rubber trees and seedlings from Malaysia and India, according to the letter.

"The production capacity of rubber plants in the country is not satisfactory" BRB chairman Syeda Sarwar Jahan said in the letter adding Bangladesh was still far away from other rubber producing countries.

She further said it was important to increase the production capacity to meet demand.

Bangladesh has become member of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) and the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB) respectively.

Bangladesh and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on multilateral clone exchange among member countries of the IRRDB, she said.

India agreed to export clone rubber as the meeting of the 14th Joint Working Group on Trade between Bangladesh and India held in March, 2022 discussed the matter.

Bangladesh has now about 1304 private and 29 government rubber gardens in Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachari, Sylhet, Mymensingh, Madhupur and Sherpur.

Besides, there are various community gardens and private gardens.

Over 67,939 tonnes of latex are currently produced on 1,40,000 hectares of land, according to the rubber board.

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