BANGLADESH

But it lost its lustre in the 1980s after synthetic materials like polythene and plastics were introduced.
Now the natural fibre has made a spectacular comeback.
Exports of jute and jute products from Bangladesh this fiscal year crossed a record billion dollars as demand for the natural fibre is steadily increasing.
With growing environmental awareness, jute, which is bio-degradable, has become the preferred alternative to polluting synthetic bags.
Jute is considered to be the second most important natural fibre after cotton in terms of cultivation and usage. It is mainly grown in eastern India, Bangladesh, China and Burma.
Until recently the fibre was used mostly as a packaging material. With a diversification of jute products, the demand for jute has increased.
"By processing the fibre mechanically and by treating it chemically, now jute can be used to make bags, carpets, textiles and even as insulation material," says Mohammad Asaduzzaman, a scientist at the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute in Dhaka.
When synthetics like polythene bags came into widespread use, the demand for jute declined and many jute mills in countries like Bangladesh were shut down.
Thousands lost their jobs and farmers shifted from jute to more profitable rice cultivation.
Today, as demand increases, more farmers are returning to this traditional crop.
It is estimated that nearly five million farmers are involved in jute plant cultivation in Bangladesh. It plays a key supportive role to the rural economy of Bangladesh.
Once the jute plants are harvested they are bundled together and immersed in running water and allowed to rot.
Then the fibres are stripped from the plant. The stripped fibre is dried and later sent to mills for processing.
Golam Moazzam, a research fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, in Dhaka says: "It is important to note that policy support also contributed to its widespread use of jute both locally and internationally.
"For example, the Bangladeshi government has made it compulsory to use jute bags for packaging of food grains."
New uses Jute is also versatile, strong and long-lasting and scientists say they are discovering more uses for it in different sectors.
For example, Geotextiles, a diversified jute product, is used for soil-erosion control and also used in laying roads to give more durability. The natural fibre is also used to make pulp and paper.
Bangladeshi scientists are now working on an ambitious project to blend jute fabric with cotton to produce denim fabric.
They say if the jute plant is harvested earlier than the usual period of 120 days, then it gives a softer fabric.
"If this special quality of fibre is chemically modified and bleached then it becomes softer. If we can blend it with cotton then we can manufacture denim fabric and diversified textile products," says Mr Asaduzzaman
If this process can be commercialised, he says, it will bring down the demand for cotton, which is also becoming dearer day by day.
The price of fabric can be reduced by a half, bringing benefits to the country's garment sector.
However, there are bottlenecks.
Special machines are required to blend this fibre with cotton and they are yet to be produced commercially. Scientists hope spinning factories will be able to install these machines in the near future.
"Unfortunately, there is not much research going on in terms promoting diversified jute products," says Mr Moazzam.
"Countries like Bangladesh and India, who are the major jute exporting countries, should conduct collaborative research to find out diversification of jute products."

Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal have been removed as Bangladesh captain and vice-captain respectively following the Tigers' disastrous performance on the recent tour to Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh Cricket Board's announcement came yesterday after the meeting of the directors who came down heavily on Shakib and his deputy for their failure as leaders both on and off the field while discussing the Zimbabwe debacle.
In December last year both had been appointed captain and vice-captain for the current year, but BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said that they had no other choice than taking the hardline to cut short their tenure.
Yunus informed that the name of new captain and vice-captain will be announced soon. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim is a likely candidate to take the hot job while Mahmudullah Riyad may be made his deputy.
Explaining the reasons behind the surprise decision, Yunus said: "Shakib and Tamim have been removed from their posts as they failed to lead the team properly in Zimbabwe. The board members discussed the reports from the members of the team management and unanimously gave their votes in favour of removing captain and vice-captain.
"There was lot of allegations against them since taking the jobs but we took a soft stance as we thought they would improve their behaviour, but now we have no choice other than taking a hardline. There are reports of indiscipline against them. In certain areas, one breached discipline is the argument with the head coach [Stuart Law] and we will definitely take further action against them," he added.
There had been lot of issues discussed after Bangladesh's miserable tour in Zimbabwe where the Tigers lost the one-off Test and five-match one-day series, but the board finally held captain and vice-captain responsible for the disaster.
"The board members also discussed whether there was any negligence from anyone in the board and we will also take action against them if found anything wrong," said Yunus.
Shakib was thrust into the job in the middle of a Test match in West Indies in June 2009 when Mashrafe Bin Mortaza got injured. The young all-rounder successfully led the team on that tour against a depleted home side, and after that he continued with the job on a series-by-series basis and single-handedly guided his side to record a memorable 4-0 one-day series victory against New Zealand last year.
With the uncertainty of injured Mashrafe, BCB has decided to appoint Shakib as captain on a long-term basis and he was due to lead the team until Bangladesh's home series against Pakistan in December.
But the Zimbabwe debacle put an end to the tenure prematurely.

Fans have poured in from all over Bangladesh for Tuesday's international friendly match between Nigeria and Argentina.

The media have fanned the frenzy, and as both teams swept their way into Dhaka on Sunday, there was no shortage of a welcome party lining the streets. Nor of security forces intent on making sure nothing untoward befell either team before, during and after what has been termed the Beximco Football Fest.

Training session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium rivalled spectatorship for Super Eagles games at the Abuja National Stadium, with thousands of fans stretching security to the limit, but with not an inkling of trouble.

Two of Bangladesh's biggest dailies illustrate the frenzy with which the media have clambered all over this game.

Football fans in Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest countries, have reacted in fury over ticket prices set at a minimum of $100 (7,400 Bangladeshi Taka) to see superstar Lionel Messi lead out Argentina in a friendly.
The stylish South Americans, who have had a massive following in
Bangladesh since the 1980s, will play in the capital Dhaka on Tuesday evening against Nigeria.
But only half of the tickets have so far been sold for the game - the biggest football match in the country's history - with many fans unable to afford the entry price.
Passion for the game runs deep in Bangladesh. During the football World Cup last year, the country was covered in Argentinian and Brazilian flags.
But minimum ticket prices of 7,400 Taka and the expense of Eid celebrations last week marking the end of Ramadan could leave rows of empty seats at the 24,000-capacity Bangabandhu National Stadium.
“It's a ridiculous price. They don't want real soccer fans to watch Messi's match. I earn just 8,000 taka per month. How can I afford a ticket?” Rajib Ahmed, 25, a chemical tester at a private company, told AFP outside the ground.
"I saved some money and bought a ticket for Monday's practice session. It costs 1,000 taka, which is still too much. I just want to see Messi in action. He is the best player on earth," Ahmed said.
Like many Bangladeshis, Rajib's love of Argentina is rooted in the team's glorious past. "Our family has been supporting the side since the heyday of (Diego) Maradona," he said. "We would have bought tickets for the match had they lowered the price to perhaps 2,000 taka."
Head of the organising committee Anwarul Haq Helal said, “If you want to see Messi play, there is some cost. We have sold only 50 percent of the tickets at the moment. We did not expect this.”