Tangail Saree as Geographical Indication of Bangladesh
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69971/tipr.3.1.2025.42Keywords:
Bangladesh, Basak, geographical indication, India, TangailAbstract
Tangail Sarees, a six-yard dress worn by women in South Asian countries especially Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, are renowned due to their unique weaving techniques, designs, and motifs. Tangail Sarees are famous due to their sophisticated designs and fine cotton and silk yarn, crafted on fly shuttle pit looms. Tangail Saree or Tant Sarees are Bengali cotton sarees originated in 1850s and flourished in 1890s decade. Basak community (Hindus) are its original weavers. This study explores the geographical indication (GI) conflict between Bangladesh and India about the Tangail Saree. The study highlights deficiencies in existing legal frameworks (indigenous laws and international instruments) regarding GI protection.
References
Alam, Shamsul. 2021.Geographical Indications in Bangladesh: potentials and policy gaps. Dhaka University Law Review 8: 121-127.
Anonymous.2024a. Roadmap to GI status for Tangail Saree: a comprehensive look. https://asianews.network/roadmap-to-gi-status-for-tangail-saree-a-comprehensive-look/
Anonymous. 2024b.Tangail Sarees: woven treasures of Bangladeshi history. https://thefamemagazine.com/tangail-sarees-woven-treasures-of-bangladeshi-history/#:~:text=The%20Tangail%20saree%20is%20more,are%20undeniably%20rooted%20in%20Bangladesh
Banerjie, Monideepa.2024. Fighting over Tangail saree GI tag won’t do India-Bangladesh any good. It’s a shared legacy https://theprint.in/opinion/fighting-over-tangail-saree-gi-tag-wont-do-india-bangladesh-any-good-its-a-shared-legacy/1960927/
Basak, Satabdi. 2021. Tangail weaving industry. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tangail-weaving-industry-satabdi-basak/
Bhattacharya, Debapriya.2024a. Tangail Saree GI by India: what to do? https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/views/tangail-saree-gi-by-india-what-to-do
Bhattacharya, Debapriya. 2024b. The Tangail Saree conflict: a test case for regional cooperation on GI protection. https://bdplatform4sdgs.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/For-Print-On-Tangail-Saree-GI-by-India-Final.pdf
Bhattacharya, Debapriya and Naima Jahan Trisha.2024a. It is time to explore the shared GI framework with India. https://cpd.org.bd/it-is-time-to-explore-the-shared-gi-framework-with-india/
Bhattacharya, Debapriya and Naima Jahan Trisha.2024b. Tangail Saree GI Conundrum: Sketching the Way Forward. https://www.tbsnews.net/analysis/tangail-saree-gi-conundrum-sketching-way-forward-798034
Bhattacharya, Debapriya and Naima Jahan Trisha. 2024c.Bangladesh’s shared GIS with India: The conflict and the outlook. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/views/news/bangladeshs-shared-gis-india-the-conflict-and-the-outlook-3744526
Calboli, Irene and Enrico Bonadio.2021. Handbook of Intellectual Property Research: Lenses, Methods, and Perspectives. Oxford Academic Press, Oxford: UK. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198826743.001.0001
DeLeon, Espie Angelica A. 2024.Now it’s India vs Bangladesh over the GI tag for Tangail saree. https://asiaiplaw.com/section/cover-story/now-its-india-vs-bangladesh-over-the-gi-tag-for-tangail-saree
Dowerah, Simantik.2024. How an Indian law firm joins Bangladesh's legal battle over Tangail saree GI tag against India. https://www.firstpost.com/world/how-an-indian-law-firm-joins-bangladeshs-legal-battle-over-tangail-saree-gi-tag-against-india-13767653.html
ETV Bharat English Team. 2024. Saree state of affairs: Bangladeshis peeved after West Bengal gets GI tag for Tangail saree. https://www.etvbharat.com/en/!offbeat/saree-state-of-affairs-bangladeshis-peeved-after-west-bengal-gets-gi-tag-for-tangail-saree-enn24020306024
Haque, Muhammad and Shamima Habib. 2019. Tangail Saree and the cultural identity of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Cultural Studies 5:45-49.
Jahan, Tasneem.2020. The Tangail Saree: a cultural symbol of Bangladesh. Journal of South Asian Studies 8: 45-47.
James, Nissy Elizabeth. 2024. The Tangail Saree GI Dispute: Battle of the Two Bengals. https://www.intepat.com/blog/the-tangail-saree-gi-dispute-battle-of-the-two-bengals/
Karim, Mohammad Ataul. 2024. Tangail Saree’ GI saga: a pragmatic legal approach. https://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/news/tangail-saree-gi-saga-pragmatic-legal-approach-3544976
Kiron, Mazharul Islam. 2021. Tangail Handloom Saree: Past, Present and Future. https://textilelearner.net/tangail-handloom-saree/
Mostofa, Anando. 2024. Outrage mounts as Indian Ministry makes “absurd claims” on Bangladesh election. https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/338436/outrage-mounts-as-indian-ministry-makes-absurd
Qureshi, Humma Rehman. 2024. Indian government’s denial of cultural link of "Tangail Saree" with Bangladesh: a controversy unveiled – OpEd. https://www.eurasiareview.com/23072024-indian-governments-denial-of-cultural-link-of-tangail-saree-with-bangladesh-a-controversy-unveiled-oped/
Sen, Shomini. 2024. Explained: Whose saree is it anyway? Bangladesh cries foul as West Bengal claims Tangail saree as its own. https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-explained-who-saree-is-it-anyway-bangladesh-cries-foul-as-west-bengal-claims-tangail-saree-as-its-own-693191
Sharma, Ritwik.2024. What's in a name: the curious case of Bangladesh’s Claim to India’s Tangail Sarees of Bengal. https://fashionlawipblog.com/2025/01/26/whats-in-a-name-the-curious-case-of-bangladeshs-claim-to-indias-tangail-sarees-of-bengal/
Shuvo, Ariful Hasan and Jannatul Naym Pieal. 2024. Tangail Saree fiasco: why cry over GI Tag when we can't make use of it? https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/tangail-saree-fiasco-why-cry-over-gi-tag-when-we-cant-make-use-it-789718
Xpress, Press. 2024. Bangladesh’s Tangail Saree Legacy vs. West Bengal’s GI Tag Claim. https://pressxpress.org/2024/02/05/bangladeshs-tangail-saree-legacy-vs-west-bengals-gi-tag-claim/
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Trends in Intellectual Property Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
