'Hajari Gur' gets GI certificate

The 'Hajari Gur' Date Palm Molasses or Jaggery) of Harirampur Upazila of Manikganj has been carrying the tradition for almost two centuries. This jaggery, made by hand using a special method from the juice of date palm trees, has a unique taste and meaning. It turns into powder when pressed in the hand. The district has been branded with the name of this jaggery, which has a good reputation in the country and abroad — 'Hajari and Baulgan, the real life of Manikganj'. Finally, this Hajari Jaggery has received the recognition of Geographical Indication (GI) product.

Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana gave this information on Tuesday evening. On Monday, the Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under the Ministry of Industries issued the GI registration certificate for this jaggery. 'Manikganjer Hajari Jaggery' has been registered in the name of the Deputy Commissioner under the 30th class under GI-62.

This special jaggery, made from date palm juice, has been appreciated in different parts of the country for many years in the Jhitka region of Harirampur due to its unique taste, aroma and traditional production method. According to local elders and gachids, once this jaggery crossed the borders of the country and became known abroad. Legend has it that Queen Elizabeth II of England also praised the taste of this jaggery — although there is no written evidence in this regard.

Jaggery manufacturers from the Jhitka area, Rahiz Uddin and Mozaffar Hossain, said that getting the GI certificate will further increase the reputation and acceptance of Hajari jaggery, it will be easier to prevent the spread of counterfeit products and it will also open up the possibility of exporting it abroad.

According to relevant sources, the process of GI registration went ahead on the initiative of Afroza Khanam Rita, Member of Parliament for Manikganj-3 constituency and Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism. Various parties, including the district administration, cooperated in the data collection and application process.

Deputy Commissioner Nazmun Ara Sultana said, "Long-term efforts and hard work have paid off. This recognition has taken Manikganj's Hajari Jaggery to new heights in the international market."