A week-long ‘Tea Testing and Quality Control Training Course’ was inaugurated in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, aimed at enhancing the taste and quality of tea. Organized by the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI), this training course is expected to play a significant role in developing skilled manpower for the tea industry, according to stakeholders.

The training workshop was officially inaugurated on Saturday, July 12, at the auditorium of BTRI’s Project Development Unit (PDU) in Sreemangal.

Major General Sheikh Md. Sarwar Hossain (SUP, NDC, PSC), Chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board, announced the launch of the training virtually. The event was chaired by Dr. Md. Ismail Hossain, Director of the Tea Board.

Speeches were delivered by distinguished guests, including Dr. A.K.M. Rafiqul Haque, Project Development Director of BTRI; Md. Taskin Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Operating Officer of Finlay Tea Company; Golam Mohammad Shibly, Chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Association and General Manager of Finlay Tea Company’s Bhadura Division; and Saiful Islam, Managing Director of National Tea Brokers.

The event was attended by over 70 trainees, along with tea industry stakeholders from various regions of the country, senior planters from tea estates, chairpersons of Tea Valley, experienced tea testers, and officials from various levels of BTRI and PDU.

Speakers emphasized that tea production in Bangladesh has been steadily increasing, surpassing domestic demand. They noted that to re-enter the export market, there is no alternative to producing high-quality tea.
They further stated that Bangladesh currently has 170 tea estates. However, due to shortcomings in producing quality tea, the full potential for exports remains untapped. Through this training course, participants will gain institutional expertise in tea testing and quality control.