HC orders list of GI products by Mar 19

The High Court (HC) on Monday asked the officials, including the Secretary to the Ministry of Industries and other relevant government parties, to prepare a list of all products from every region of Bangladesh that are officially recognised as Geographical Indications (GI) or have applied for the recognition.

It also ordered to submit the list before it by 19 March.

The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir also issued a rule asking why the authorities inaction to create and register a list of GI products should not be declared illegal.

The commerce secretary, agriculture secretary, culture secretary, and other officials concerned have been made respondents to reply to the rule.

The HC bench came up with the orders and rule after hearing on a writ petition filed by Barrister Sarowat Siraj Shukla seeking its directive for compiling a list of all GI products in Bangladesh.

Earlier on 18 February, the Supreme Court lawyer filed the petition as public interest litigation seeking directions for compiling a list of all GI products in Bangladesh.

India recently claimed the centuries-old Tangail saree as its own by recognising it as a GI product.

When India recognised the Tangail saree as a GI product of West Bengal, it sparked widespread debate and criticism in Bangladesh.

Following this, the Ministry of Industries recognised the Tangail saree as a GI product of Bangladesh on 8 February.