RAJSHAHI, Apr 01: A group of researchers from the Rajshahi University (RU) has found an ancient variety of cotton in the coastal district Bagerhat.
During the research and survey work under the project 'Recovery of Muslin Production Technology' in a village of the district, they found the rare cotton variety.
This species of cotton originated from Egypt and cannot be found elsewhere of the country, said the research team head and senior professor of RU Botany Department Dr Monzur Hossain.
The scientific name of this species of cotton is 'Gossypium Barbadence.' The fibre is larger and production is higher than any other varieties of cotton.
Dr. Hossain said it is assumed that Saint Khanjahan Ali brought this variety in 14th century to what is now Bangladesh.
The city of Mosul in Iraq was famous at that time for producing quality cotton.
Most of the people in southern part of the Bangladesh who made Muslin clothes were reportedly from Mosul. Thus, a species of that cotton may have remained in Bagerhat area.
Earlier, on the basis of information about this cotton from a student of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of RU, Dr. Monzur collected the sample of variety on December last year.
During the collection of cotton samples, Chairman of Bangladesh Handloom Board Rafiqul Islam, Director of RU Institute of Biological Science (IBSc) Professor Dr. Firoze Alam and researcher Dr. Mostafizur Rahman were also with Dr. Monzur.
Naima and Afreen two master's thesis group students of RU Botany Department collaborated in this study.
Prof. Monzur also revealed that quality of the cotton variety is good. Usually, clothes made with this cotton are being used as bed-sheet in the five-star hotels of the developed countries.
"Apart from this cotton, researcher's team has discovered some ancient cotton species of Bangladesh," Prof. Monzur said.
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