Govt plans renewable energy, eco-tourism on unused tea estate land

In a move to maximise land use within the country's tea estates and promote alternative energy sources, the government has decided to launch renewable energy projects and eco-tourism initiatives on unused tea estate land.

Authorities have held discussions with the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), which will take necessary steps to implement the renewable energy initiative.

Speaking at an event today (21 May) marking the 5th National Tea Day, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said, "There is much fallow land in tea gardens that must be utilised. Although production is high, prices barely cover costs. That's why we plan to generate renewable energy on unused land to create additional income streams."

Organised by the commerce ministry at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital, the event featured the National Tea Awards 2025, presented in eight categories to honour achievements in the sector.

The commerce secretary further said the government is revising its tea policy to address long-standing issues. 

"If the government has to step in to pay workers' wages due to failures by garden owners, then it is only fair for the government to assume ownership of those estates," he added, signalling a tougher stance on non-compliant owners.

Solar power generation 

Bangladesh Tea Association Chairman Kamran Tanvirur Rahman said nearly 45% of tea estate land is unsuitable for cultivation. "If just 20% of that land is used for solar power generation, it could produce up to 14,000 megawatts of electricity," he added. 

"This would not only significantly raise tea estate incomes but also ease the country's energy crisis." He also proposed developing eco-tourism on the unused land to further diversify income sources.

Referring to the 2022 tea workers' strike, which caused losses of nearly Tk400 crore, Kamran said the sector has yet to recover. To support its revival, he proposed a Tk4,500 crore revolving fund for garden owners to access development loans. 

He called for raising the minimum auction price of tea, currently set at Tk160 per kilogram.

Optimising tea estates

Speaking at the event, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin stressed the importance of making better use of idle tea estate land. "These lands can be utilised for renewable energy and tourism, but the primary business must remain tea production," he said.

He also urged reform of the tax and duty system in the tea industry. "We need to fix mismanagement, cut costs, and boost productivity. The tea sector has huge potential.

"I see a bright future for the industry. The current challenges are being addressed, and I'm hopeful we'll find solutions soon," he added.

The event began with a welcome speech by Maj Gen Sheikh Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, chairman of the Bangladesh Tea Board. Among others, Shah Moinuddin Hasan, chairman of the Tea Traders Association of Bangladesh, also spoke at the event.

This year's award-winning tea gardens included Deanston, Madhupur, The Consolidated Tea and Lands Company, Mirzapur, Kazi and Kazi, Morgen, and Supreme Tea. Individual awards were given to ABM Akhtaruzzaman from Panchagarh and Jasmin Akhter, a worker at Neptune Tea Garden.