Govt forms monitoring, advisory committee to develop tea industry

The government has formed a monitoring and advisory committee to support the development of Bangladesh's tea industry, with a 12-member body headed by the Minister for Commerce.

The committee was formed today through a gazette notification issued by the Prime Minister's Office, according to the notification.

The committee includes the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Governor of Bangladesh Bank, secretaries of the Land, Finance, Commerce and Agriculture ministries, and chairmen of the National Board of Revenue, Bangladesh Tea Board and Bangladesh Tea Association, among others.

The Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce will serve as the member-secretary of the committee.

According to the notification, the committee will recommend rescheduling and providing fresh loans to tea garden owners to facilitate repayment of existing loans.

It will also give its opinion on the formation of a revolving fund at a six-percent interest rate for the tea sector.

Besides, the committee will submit a report within the next 30 working days on the declaration of tea as an agricultural product and the installation of solar panels commercially on unused land of tea gardens.

The committee may co-opt members when necessary and will hold meetings as required.

The notification said the decision would take immediate effect.

The committee also includes representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, Bangladesh Tea Research Institute, tea traders, plantation and traders' associations, and related stakeholders.