Eminent economist Debapriya Bhattacharya has criticised the use of half-truths and misleading information by India in recognising the Tangail saree as its own Geographical Indication (GI) product. Bhattacharya emphasised that the Tangail saree cannot be considered a GI product of India.

Debapriya Bhattacharya, a Distinguished Fellow of Research Institute Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), came up with the remarks while speaking at the meeting titled “Recognition of Tangail Saree as a GI Product of West Bengal: Process, Situation, and Actions of Bangladesh,” organised by the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at its Dhanmondi office in the capital.

Bhattacharya urged Bangladesh to promptly file a case with an Indian court regarding the matter. He noted that there is an opportunity to do so under India's own GI Act.

India’s recent recognition of the ‘Banglar Tangail Saree’ or ‘Tangail Saree of Bengal’ as a GI product has faced criticism in Bangladesh.

Tangail saree traders, GI experts, lawyers, and rights activists have asserted that the Tangail saree is a product of Bangladesh, emphasising that there is no area named ‘Tangail’ in India.

Bhattacharya highlighted inconsistencies in India’s GI application for Tangail sarees, noting that the Tanti bania community of Hindus from Tangail, as well as many Muslim communities, have been involved in producing these sarees in the Tangail region for generations.

He underscored that the geographical identity of the Tangail saree cannot be altered, and criticised the use of fraudulent information in India’s GI recognition process.

According to Bhattacharya, objections to India's GI recognition must be raised within three months as per India’s GI Act.

He urged Bangladesh to take legal action within this timeframe, asserting that India’s arguments for recognising the Tangail saree as a GI product are not based on facts.

Bhattacharya also criticised the haste with which the district administration of Tangail applied for GI status for the saree following India’s recognition.

He questioned the delay in taking action on this matter by relevant departments in Bangladesh.

At the event, Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of CPD, conducted the program, while Mostafizur Rahman, another fellow of CPD, emphasised the importance of proceeding cautiously and efficiently in matters related to intellectual property rights. CPD Program Associate Naima Jahan was also present on the occasion.