Bangladesh sequences jute genome

The prime minister takes the pleasure to break the news in the parliament that Bangladeshi researchers have successfully sequenced genome of jute.

Dhaka, June 16 (bdnews24.com)—Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has disclosed in the parliament that Bangladeshi researchers have successfully done genome sequencing of jute which will contribute to improving jute fibre.

The discovery will revive jute, which is familiar as golden fibre, its lost glory. Jute will grow amid the hostile weather due to the climate change.

Bangladesh is now the second developing country in Asia to dig out the history of jute's evolution, she told the parliament on Wednesday.

"Many people may ask the question about the application of the genome sequencing. It will improve the quality of jute fibre and help saplings to survive in adverse weather caused by climate change," said Hasina.

She cancelled the scheduled the question-answer hour for prime minister to make the announcement.

The prime minister said the discovery would also help the farmers to better manage pest.

"This will increase jute production leading to a better future for the farmers."

Hasina said a group of Bangladeshi researchers of Dhaka University's Biochemistry and Biotechnology departments, led by an expatriate, Dr Maqsudul Alam, made the accomplishment.

"We maintained the highest level of secrecy to make the announcement in the parliament," she said.

"We must get the intellectual rights on this discovery," said the prime minister.

This achievement would brighten Bangladesh's external image in the field of research as a handful of countries in the world had made the accomplishment, said Hasina.

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