Jute shows new prospect

Director General of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Dr Md Kamal Uddin addresses the commissioning ceremony of the country's first boat made of jute fibres at Taratari Shipyard in Kalurghat in Chittagong city yesterday. The event was a part of the week-long festival titled "Boat Technology and Culture in Chittagong and Bengal" jointly organised by The Daily Star and Alliance Française de Chittagong. Photo: STAR

Jute, instead of wood, can be used in the country to make eco-friendly products such as boats, said Director General of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute Dr Md Kamal Uddin yesterday.
“Jute is not only the golden fibre of the country,” he said, adding that if new technology is introduced, jute can have great economic potential.
Kamal made the observation during the commissioning of country's first jute fibre boat at Taratari Shipyard in Kalurghat in the city.
The event was part of the festival “Tora Kon Kon Jabi Anr Sampanat [Who of you will board my boat?]”, hosted by The Daily Star and Alliance Française de Chittagong.
The festival is a sequel to “Odommo Chattagram” organised by The Daily Star in 2012.
Expressing gratitude to a young French team involved in the making of the boat, the director said he was happy to be present at the ceremony.
He thanked the team for its research on boat technology using jute fibre.
At the programme, French expert on boat technology Yves Marre, also director of the shipyard, extended his thanks to AK Khan Group for helping to build the boat.
Marre said he has projects to make small and big fibre boats for carrying passengers.
Bangladesh is a country frequently hit by natural calamities like floods. This kind of fibre boats, which do not sink easily, would help people navigate during floods, he added.
Marc Van Peteghem, a renowned French naval architect, said wood prices are increasing day by day and jute is cheaper than any other materials.
The boats used by people here are diverse, he said. “I learned from them many things that helped me develop new technology,” said Peteghem.
Among others who spoke at the programme were Corentin De Chatelperron, project manager of Gold of Bengal; Roland Jourdain, chairman of Kairos; and Mokhlesur Rahman, executive director of Jute Diversification Promotion Centre.