Four new items– Yogurt from Bogura, Tulsimala rice from Sherpur, Ashwina and Langra mangoes from Chapainawabganj– have been recognized as Geographical Indicator (GI) products status.
Deputy Register (Deputy Secretary) of the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) Md Jellur Rahman today confirmed that Bangladesh is now one and only owner of the four products.
So far, Bangladesh has got the ownership of a total of 15 GI products. No other country or individual in the world can claim the ownership of these products.
Geographical Indication (GI) is a special name or symbol used for a material which is determined by the geographical location or source (such as a country, region or city) of a particular item.
Geographically recognized materials ensure certain quality standards or specific manufacturing systems or specialties. The biggest advantage of GI products is the branding of products in the global market, which puts GI products ahead of any other equivalent product.
DPDT recognizes and certifies GI products under the Ministry of Industry in accordance with the norms of the International Property Rights Organization (WIPO).
In 2013, the Geographical Indication Products (Registration and Protection) Act was enacted. In 2015, the DPDT called for the registration of GI products after the formulation of the Act.
Mentionable, Jamdani saree was recognized as a GI product for the first time in Bangladesh in 2016.
