Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked all concerned to add value to tea instead of only selling tea leaves in bulk as the demand for diversified tea products was increasing globally.

‘People’s taste has now changed. Different kinds of tea are now available. Produce aroma tea. The demand for teas having various flavours is now very high globally. Special attention is required to this end alongside producing tea,’ she said.

The PM was inaugurating the tea festival as the chief guest marking celebration of the 4th ‘National Tea Day 2024’ at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium here this morning.

She also conferred the National Tea Award 2024 on different persons, organisations and companies in eight categories.

The prime minister asked the tea garden owners and tea businessmen to add value to the tea.

‘If you add value to tea, you will get more money comparing to (only) sale of tea leaves abundantly as the demand for aroma tea is increasing globally day by day,’ she said.

Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for research to ensure multifaceted use of tea, its production and marketing.

‘We have to make sure multifaceted use of tea such as aroma tea. We can earn foreign currencies by exporting value added teas,’ she said.

The PM said that research was being conducted to produce tea from jute leaves as experts believe that jute tea can help reduce sugar in blood as its leaves taste bitter.

She also suggested using Kanakchapa flavor in tea through research as tulshi tea, jasmine tea, herbal tea and masla tea are available in markets.

She asked that the tea businessmen to produce zinger, lemon, bay leave, cardamom, cinnamon and clove flavoured tea as well.

As the prime minister reached the venue, she was received by children with a Monipuri dance.

She later took part in a group photo session with the award winners.

Presided over by state minister for commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, the function was also addressed by the ministry’s parliamentary standing committee chairman Tipu Munshi, commerce ministry secretary Md Selim Uddin, and chairman of Bangladesh Tea Board, major general Md Ashraful Islam, among others.

A documentary on the development of Bangladesh tea industries made by Bangladesh Tea Board was screened on the occasion.

The date ‘June 4’ has been declared as ‘The National Tea Day’ to commemorate the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s contribution to the tea industry and make the date of his joining to the Tea Board as its chairman ever memorable.

Sheikh Mujib had played a significant role in sustainable development of the tea industry during his tenure to the Tea Board from June 4, 1957 to October 23, 1958.