2024-02-12 00:50:09
India has recognized Tangail saree as its Geographical Indication (GI) product under the name ‘Tangail Saree of Bengal’. The Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) of the Ministry of Industry is going to recognize Tangail saree as a GI product as its own product of Bangladesh in view of the application of the district administration. In this regard, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has ordered to take necessary measures to resolve the matter in international organizations if there is any conflict with the announcement of India’s GI recognition.
He gave this order at the cabinet meeting held under his chairmanship at the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday (February 11). Before the start of the meeting, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun handed over the GI application journal of Tangail Sarees to the Prime Minister.
At the press briefing at the Secretariat after the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain told reporters this information. He said, the Prime Minister said, if there is any conflict in India’s declaration of Tangail saree as their GI product, then we should present the issue in the international organization that is there. The Prime Minister gave that instruction in the Cabinet meeting.
In the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also directed the concerned to be more proactive in getting the certificate of recognition of GI products.
Mahbub Hossain said, there was a little discussion about GI products in the (cabinet) meeting. Prime Minister Said, the initiative should be taken by us for the products we have (to get its GI recognition).
Meanwhile, their GI journals have been published after applying for GI recognition of Sari of Tangail, Rasgolla of Gopalganj and Amrit Sagarkala of Narsingdi. The Cabinet Secretary said that the journals were given to the Prime Minister at the beginning of Sunday’s Cabinet meeting.
When factors related to the environment, climate and culture of a region contribute to the production of food products, agricultural products, handicrafts or manufactured goods or any other product and the product can be defined geographically and traditionally as its own, then it is a geographical indication product or GI (Geographical Indication) product. is recognized as GI rights are usually owned by the country.
When a product gets GI recognition it becomes easier to brand it globally globally. With the GI certificate, the right of commercial production and legal protection of that product remains under that country. No other country can claim ownership of that product. As a result commercial or financial security of the producer is also ensured.
India’s Ministry of Industries recognized the ‘Tangail Saree of Bengal’ as its own GI product, sparking controversy. Later, Tangail district administration also applied to DPDT for GI recognition of Tangail sarees. It was then published by DPDT in the GI Journal as part of the process of recognizing it as a GI product of Bangladesh. As per the rules, Tangail saree will be certified as a GI product of Bangladesh if no one opposes this journal within two months thereafter.
read- Handover of GI certificate of 3 products to PM
Meanwhile, India has already recognized this saree as its own product. If Tangail saree GI is recognized in Bangladesh as well, both countries will become claimants for the rights of the product. In this case, Bangladesh has to appeal against the GI recognition certificate given by India to get the recognition of the product individually.
DPDT Director (Administration and Finance) Aleya Khatun earlier told the media that disputes over recognition of GI products should be referred to the World Intellectual Property Rights Organization (WIPO). Bangladesh will go to WIPO challenging India’s recognition of Tangail sarees. He is hopeful that Bangladesh will get a single GI of Tangail saree there.