Zakir Azad, Cumilla

Four products of the country, including Cumillas Rasmalai, have been recognized as the latest GI products. The Directorate of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT), an institution under the Ministry of Industries, confirmed the matter. The other three products that got the new GI recognition are Chamcham from Porabari in Tangail, Kushtia Tiler Khaja and Bangladesh Black Bengal Goat. With this, 10 products got GI recognition in 2023. DPDT recognizes the GI of a product.

Director General of DPDT. Munim Hasan said, "Now 21 products of the country got GI recognition through four new products. At least 11 more products are now under our consideration. They are also being worked on. For Rasmalai in Cumilla , Chamcham in Tangail and Rasmalai in Kushtia, the District Commissioners of those three districts and the Department of Livestock for Bangladesh Black Bengal goats applied.

If the culture of the population plays the most important role in the production of a product in the context of soil, water, climate of a country, then it is recognized as a GI product of that country. GI recognition is very important to identify a product. Even without knowing the details of a product, consumers can rely on its reputation to use that product.

Professor of Marketing Department of Dhaka University. Abul Kalam Azad said, 'The first importance of a product being recognized as a GI is that a product is identified as belonging to a specific area. It has global recognition.

The second importance is that it facilitates the commercialization of the product. When the product is shipped to foreign countries, GI recognition plays a major role in determining the quality and price of the product.'

The country passed the Geographical Indication Products (Registration and Protection) Act in 2013. Jamdani was registered as the first GI product in the country. After that, Hilsa, Kshirshapati Mango, Muslin, Bagda Shrimp, Kalijira Rice, White Soil of Vijaypur, Silk of Rajshahi, Shataranji of Rangpur, Kataribhog Rice of Dinajpur, Fazli Mango of Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj have been recognized as GI products one by one in the last 10 years. In June of the outgoing year Shitalpati, Dai of Bogra, Tulsimala paddy of Sherpur, Langra mango of Chapainawabganj, Ashwina mango of Chapainawabganj and Kachagolla of Natore got recognition as GI products.
The researchers feel that the sooner the GI recognition of the country's traditional products is done to strengthen its position in international trade, the better. For example, Jamdani saree and hilsa of Bangladesh were almost going out of hand. India's 'Jamdani' was going to get GI recognition.

Later, however, that Jamdani was recognized as 'Upadha Jamdani'. And Jamdani of Bangladesh is recognized as 'Jamdani Saree'. The products or traditions of different parts of the country are not less. But in last 10 years only 11 products got GI recognition. And this time 10 products have been recognized in just one year.

According to DPDT sources, a private organization named E-Commerce Development Center (EDC) has contributed to the acceleration of this recognition. President of EDC Kakli Talukder told Prothom Alo, 'The application for GI products is ready and we have helped the applicant to complete all the processes regarding it. So 10 products have been recognized in one year.

DPDT Assistant Director (Patents) Neeharranjan Varman said, when an application for GI recognition of a product comes, it is scrutinized and published in the form of a journal. After that two months time is given to find out whether anyone has any objection to this or not. If there is no objection, the product is accepted. No objection was received in respect of the four new products. So these products are now recognized as GI products.

A certificate is available if the GI of the product is available. There is an acknowledgment of the product. But after obtaining the GI, the production of that product needs to be monitored in a clean and proper manner. This monitoring can be done only by the product applicant authority.

For example, after the GI recognition of Rasmalai in Cumilla , the applicant district administration has to take responsibility to ensure that its production is of quality and not random. The establishments which will produce rasmalai will take permission. Their products may have any administration hallmarks.

Director General of DPDT. Munim Hasan said, 'The applicant organization will be empowered to monitor the product. We are now taking that initiative. This will improve product quality and prevent counterfeiting.