Reviving the ‘Golden Fibre’
BANGLADESH celebrated National Jute Day yesterday, recalling a fibre that once stood at the heart of the nation’s economic story.
For decades, jute-rightly called the “Golden Fibre”-was the backbone of Bangladesh’s export trade and a lifeline for millions of farmers and industrial workers.
In the years before and after independence, jute and jute goods accounted for the lion’s share of export earnings, financing much of the country’s early economic development.
The fertile plains of the delta produced some of the world’s finest jute, while mills in Khulna, Narayanganj and other industrial centres turned the raw fibre into globally demanded products.
Entire communities depended on this ecosystem of cultivation, processing and trade. Jute was not merely a crop; it was a pillar of Bangladesh’s economic identity.
Yet this year’s observance arrives against a troubling backdrop.
According to the latest Export Promotion Bureau data, exports of jute and jute goods fell by 4.10 per cent in the fiscal year 2024-25 to $820.16 million, marking the fifth consecutive year of decline.
Only a few years ago the sector earned more than $1.1 billion annually.
The fall signals Bangladesh’s retreat from the billion-dollar club in a sector it once dominated.
The contraction is visible across major product categories.
Exports of raw jute have declined sharply, while shipments of jute yarn and twine-traditionally the backbone of the industry-have also fallen.
Rising raw jute prices, driven by poor yields and hoarding, have significantly increased production costs for mills and exporters.
At the same time, anti-dumping duties imposed by India on several Bangladeshi jute products have narrowed access to a key market.
Equally troubling is the domestic contradiction. Despite the official ban on polythene bags, plastic continues to dominate daily commerce, while jute bags struggle to gain wider use due to weak enforcement.
This undermines both the industry and efforts to address the country’s mounting plastic pollution.
Ironically, global demand for biodegradable materials is rising rapidly, offering new opportunities for natural fibres such as jute.
Bangladesh still possesses the climate, experience and reputation needed to lead this market.
National Jute Day should therefore be more than a symbolic celebration.
It should serve as a renewed commitment to protect and revitalise the Golden Fibre-an industry that once shaped Bangladesh’s economic past and still holds promise for its sustainable future.
