First ever Bangladesh Tea Expo begins in Dhaka

The Bangladesh Tea Expo, dubbed the first ever in 150-year history of the country's tea industry by the organisers, has started in Dhaka.

Top tea gardens, producers, marketing organisations and other organisations of the industry are taking part in the three-day expo organised by Bangladesh Tea Board in the capital's International Convention City Bashundhara.   

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan, and Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, were among those who attended the inauguration ceremony on Thursday.  

Tea Board Chairman Major General Shafeenul Islam, Bangladesh Tea Association Chairman Ardashir Kabir, Tea Traders' Association of Bangladesh Chairman Shantanu Biswas, among the tea traders and owners of tea gardens, were also present.

There are 16 stalls and 30 pavilions in the exhibition which will be open for all from 10am to 10pm until Jan 14.

Tea Board officials said the exhibition aims to create a national platform to exhibit and uphold Bangladesh's tea industry among the tea connoisseurs of the country and abroad.

Its core aspect is to showcase Bangladesh tea industry, promote diversification of tea and tea products, and explore the culture of tea gardens, they said. 

New tea varieties 'BT19' and 'BT20' were unveiled in the inauguration.