The High Court on Monday directed the government to prepare a list of all the Geographical indication (GI) products of Bangladesh that have either officially been recognized or have been applied for such recognition.
The court asked the authorities to submit the list by March 19. At the same time, the court also issued a rule questioning why the authorities’ failure to formulate and register a list of GI products should not be deemed illegal.
The Commerce Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, Culture Secretary, and other pertinent officials have been granted a four-week period to respond to this rule.
The High Court bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir passed the order after hearing a writ petition.
Barrister Sarowat Siraj Shukla from Tangail, who filed the petition, appeared for the writ in court.
On Sunday, she filed the public interest litigation in the High Court seeking directives for the compilation of a comprehensive list encompassing all GI products in Bangladesh.
The controversy arose when India laid claim to the centuries-old Tangail sari, recognizing it as a GI product originating from West Bengal. This move sparked widespread debate and criticism.
Subsequently, on February 8, the Ministry of Industries in Bangladesh recognized the Tangail Sari as a GI product of Bangladesh in response to the situation.