Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Saturday said quality tea production is increasing by 4 to 5 percent each year in the country.

Despite this increase, Bangladesh’s tea export is not increasing in line with the production as domestic consumption of tea increased with the purchasing ability of people, he said.

People in the rural areas are also accustomed to tea, as a result, on an average people are taking 10 crore cups of tea every day in the country, the commerce minister said.

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Tipu Munshi said this while addressing as the chief guest at the inaugural function of 'Tea Day' at Osmani Auditorium in the capital on Saturday. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Bangladesh Tea Board.

Expatriate Welfare Minister Imran Ahmed, FBCCI President Jasim Uddin, Bangladesh Tea Board Chairman Major General Ashraful Islam, Bangladesh Tea Association Chairman M Shah Alam and Tea Traders Association Chairman Omar Hannan, among others, spoke on the occasion. Senior secretary of commerce ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh presided over the function.

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Tipu Munshi said the production of tea increased to 96.51 million kg in 2021 which was 60 million kg in 2009. If the production would not grow, tea consumption is required to meet by importing.

The minister urged the tea garden owners to work more for the welfare of 1.49 crore workers, who are working hard to develop this sector.