The National Jute Day-2023 will be observed today (Monday) throughout the country with a view to making jute goods popular among the people.
This year's theme of the day is 'Contribution of Jute Industry - Building Smart Bangladesh (Pat Shilper Obodan- Smart Bangladesh Binirman)'.
On the eve of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting the people involved with the jute sector.
In their messages, they hoped that jute will play a positive role in the economic growth of the nation as well as the protection of the environment.
President Hamid in his message urged all concerned to take effective initiatives to increase the production of eco-friendly jute products for flourishing the jute industry of the country.
"I welcome the initiative of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute to observe the 'National Jute Day-2023'," he said.
He hoped this initiative will help accelerate the development of the jute sector as the history and tradition of Bangladesh are deeply involved with 'golden fibre' jute.
Jute and jute made-products are recognized as eco-friendly products at home and abroad as they uphold the local culture of the country, Hamid said.
In the context of global climate change, the use of natural fibre jute and jute products as an alternative to polyethene and plastic can play a positive role in the economic enlargement of the country alongside ensuring environmental protection, he added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the 'Golden Fiber (Sonali Ash)' jute is an important cash crop of Bangladesh.
Noting that the jute sector is one of the foreign exchange earning sectors of the country, the Premier said that this sector is an effective tool for Bangalees for their economic emancipation.
She also said that jute is also playing an important role in the socio-economic development of the country, poverty alleviation, women's empowerment and employment generation.
After the independence of the country, the greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took multifaceted effective steps for the development of the jute industry.
The ongoing patronage of the Awami League government has been able to restore the lost heritage of the jute sector and make it more prosperous, she added.
Due to the widespread public awareness about the harmful effects of plastic and polythene on the global environment, the use of eco-friendly jute as an alternative natural fibre has gained momentum, she continued.
Jute product has been declared as 'Product of the Year 2023' while jute is recognized as an agricultural product with the aim of creating the interest of farmers in jute cultivation, increasing the use of jute and jute products in domestic and international markets and highlighting the bright potential of golden fibre globally, she said.
The Awami League-led government has been working tirelessly for the betterment of people for the past 14 years, she said, adding that Bangladesh is now a 'role model' in the world in every field of socio-economic development.
Bangladesh has graduated as a developing country, she said, adding that if this trend of the country's development continues, Bangladesh will emerge as a developed nation by 2041.
She hoped that thus the country will become 'Smart Bangladesh' cum 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by the Father of the Nation in the days to come.
Both the President and the premier wished all the programmes undertaken on the occasion of the 'National Jute Day-2023' a success.
