GI Law will be passed in winter session of parliament to protect nat'l assets: Barua

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Singers of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi performing at the launching ceremony of 'Ours', a nationwide Community Branding Competition among the universities, at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi in the city Friday. — FE Photo

FE Report Industries Minister Dilip Barua said Friday the Geographical Indication Law will be passed in the winter session of parliament to protect the national assets. "We have to protect whatever geographical indicative products we have across the country. We have taken initiative to pass the GI (Geographical Indication) Law to protect our national assets. We hope to pass it in the winter session of parliament," Dilip Barua said. He made the announcement while addressing as the chief guest the launching ceremony of 'Ours', a nationwide Community Branding Competition among the universities, at Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi in the city. Build Better Bangladesh (B-Cube), a youth forum, organised the programme in partnership with Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation and Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) with the slogan 'I Am Bangladesh' to promote various regional products of the country and patent them. Rokia Afzal Rahman, president, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Dhaka and Md Sabur Khan, president, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) were present as the special guests at the programme. The minister said the draft law will soon be sent to the cabinet committee meeting and it will be placed before parliament after the vetting of the Law Ministry. "If we can pass the GI Law in this winter session, we will be able to save our national assets," Dilip Barua said. He said the country will observe April 26 as the Intellectual Property Rights Day to protect the patent rights of the young generation as they have taken the initiative to develop entrepreneurship. The minister mentioned various national heritages like Hilsa of Padma, Rasmalai of Comilla, Monda of Muktagachha, Jamdani of Sonargaon and various products which are produced at various corners of the country which should be protected. Dilip Barua said the Bangladesh cricket team, the Army, and the labourers are already the brand items of the country and now the products manufactured and produced here should be positioned as the brand items in the global forums. "Our goal is to prove the similarity between our commitment and actions to the new generation," he said. Rokia Afzal Rahman, also a former caretaker government adviser, said there are many talents and creative minds among the new generation people who have technology and creativity. They can do anything with their talent and creativity, she added. She called upon the young people to uphold the interest of the country first and think about self- interest later. "The country has achieved a lot over the last 40 years. But we are handing over the country to you and you will take it forward," she said. Sabur Khan said the country has many traditional products like honey of Sundarbans, which has no patent rights. "Sundarbans is famous for many things. Honey is one of them and people are crazy about that. That is why anyone can sell honey by labeling it as Honey of Sundarbans," said Mr Khan. He informed he found Hajir Biriani and Fakhruddin's Biriani in Dubai which is a good news for the country but those are not patented. "It is unfortunate that a neighbouring country has patented our Jamdani just because we do not have any GI law here," he said. As many as 60 departments of 40 universities of the seven divisions will take part in a competition on April 26, to identify various local products which should be patented. The prime minister is supposed to handover the awards to the three winners which will be sponsored by DCCI.