PM orders formation of committee to resolve tea industry crisis

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has ordered the formation of a committee comprising relevant ministries, departments and industry representatives to resolve the longstanding crisis in the country's tea industry.

He gave the directive at a meeting on tea industry development at the Prime Minister's Office on Sunday. The Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu briefed journalists after the meeting.

He said the initiative was taken to develop the tea industry, increase production capacity and find effective solutions to long-standing problems. The Prime Minister listened to the industry's issues and assured necessary policy and institutional support.

During the meeting, tea garden owners and representatives highlighted various issues, including rising production costs, financing constraints, energy costs and challenges in maintaining international market competitiveness. They also put forward several proposals for the industry's sustainable development.

The Prime Minister said the tea industry is an important sector of the country's economy. The government will continue to provide necessary policy, financial and institutional support for its development.

The Prime Minister also assured tea garden owners of facilitating existing loans, low-interest loan facilities, permission for solar power generation on land unsuitable for cultivation, and necessary financial cooperation for renewable energy projects.

The meeting was attended by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, Commerce Minister Khondkar Abdul Muktadir, Land State Minister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, Prime Minister's Chief Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar and other concerned officials.