Natore’s Kancha Golla wins GI tag

Kancha Golla, a popular sweet item made in the northwestern district of Natore, has secured recognition as a product with geographical indication (GI) from the Department of Patent, Industrial Design and Trade Mark (DPDT).

"We have given the GI recognition to Kancha Golla as it is part of our heritage. This will enable producers to commercialise the sweet product in the markets at home and abroad," said DPDT Director Jellur Rahman.

With this, Kancha Golla became the 17th product of Bangladesh that has so far received the GI status. Other GI tag winners include Jamdani, Shataranji, Hilsa, black tiger shrimp, Dhakai Muslin, Fazli, Ashwina and Langra mangoes.

In Bangladesh, the recognition is provided by the DPDT of the industries ministry in accordance with rules set by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Products are granted the GI tag when they have unique characteristics that help identify their country of origin for being definable by the materials, climate and culture with which they were made.

This in effect highlights the traditions and reputation of products made within a particular area or country, helping fetch higher prices compared to similar products manufactured elsewhere.

And as a branch of intellectual property rights, the GI tag ensures that marketing rights and legal protection is reserved for the origin countries of certified products.

In March this year, Shameem Ahmed took up the initiative to attain the GI status for Kancha Golla when he was the deputy commissioner of Natore.

Subsequently, the district administration filed an application with the DPDT to prevent the distortion of the nearly 263-year-old Kacha Golla and win the recognition.

Ahmed, who is currently the deputy commissioner of Rajshahi, told The Daily Star that he is happy that Natore's Kancha Golla has been recognised as a GI product.

Abu Naser Bhuiyan, deputy commissioner of Natore, said Natore will be appreciated further at home and abroad after Kancha Golla was recognised as a GI product.

The Geographical Indication (Registration and Protection) Act 2013 aims to grant intellectual property protection for goods made using the ingenuity and traditional knowledge of local producers.