India has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) certification for Sundarbans honey, a move seen as resulting from negligence of Bangladeshi authorities, said Debapriya Bhattacharya of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
CPD Honorary Fellow Dr Mustafizur Rahman has laid emphasis on immediately taking the issue bilaterally with India and work out an agreement to market Sundarbans honey jointly under a joint partnership. "We can abandon our right," he said calling for negotiation.
The Ministry of Industrys Department of Patent, Design, and Trademarks lacks the awareness of the importance of GIs, which could also leave traditional handicrafts vulnerable to imitation. Insiders said the ministry is still learning about GIs while India is taking all advantages based on Bangladeshs ignorance or indifference.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya earlier made the observation on the GI issue in a key note presentation at a meeting hosted by CPD on Wednesday. He said despite having Bangladeshs larger share of the Sundarbans and higher honey production, the country failed to obtain the GI certification due to indifference of the concerned government departments.
Bhattacharya pointed out that Bangladesh missed the opportunity to file an objection when India announced its certification, similar to earlier oversight in case Jamdani sarees. He criticized the administrations lack of skilled personnel at important places.
Bhattacharya also noted lack of discussion on such important issues within the administration or law ministry, underscoring that marginalized communities, such as honey producers, are often overlooked.
Dr Mostafizur Rahman, emphasized the commercial and economic significance of intellectual property rights for marginalized people. He warned that without proper follow-up, obtaining a GI certification would not yield positive commercial outcomes. Rahman suggested resolving the issue through bilateral agreements with India to market Sundarbans honey cooperatively.
Participants in the CPD meeting, conducted by Executive Director Dr. Fahmida Khatun, demanded immediate government action to cancel Indias GI registration of Sundarbans honey. The Sundarbans, spanning 10,000 square kilometers, is primarily located in Bangladesh, which has not capitalized on its larger area and higher production to secure the GI certification.
In floor question answer session it was learnt that in a parallel development, the government has announced a new initiative to promote traditional handicrafts to boost the local economy and preserve cultural heritage.
This initiative will provide financial assistance, training, and marketing support to artisans.
However, concerns have been raised about the protection of these crafts through geographical indications. The Ministry of Industrys Department of Patent, Design, and Trademarks lacks awareness of the importance of GIs, which could leave traditional crafts vulnerable to imitation.
In the discussion it was learnt that the ministry is still learning about GIs, having primarily focused on patents, designs, and trademarks.
In the meeting experts stressed the urgency for the government to educate relevant departments about GIs to protect traditional artisans heritage and economic interests.
Successful implementation of these measures could set an example for other countries and underscore the importance of protecting cultural heritage through robust intellectual property rights systems, Mustafizur Rahman said.
