The country’s herbal medicine market, which has been expanding gradually since 1980 as a safe treatment system, will exceed Tk 2,500 crore by 2020, herbalists told a workshop in the city on Saturday.
The sales volume of herbal medicines jumped to Tk 1,000 crore in 2010 against an insignificant Tk 1 crore in 1980. Bangladesh can earn valuable foreign exchange and create employment through further expansion of the industry, they said.
Bangladesh Ayurvedic Aushad Shilpa Samity with the support of Medicinal Plants and Herbal Products Business Promotion Council arranged the workshop at the Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium.
Industries minister Dilip Barua was the chief guest at the workshop, chaired by BAASS founding president Selim Mohammad Shahjahan.
Bangladesh Unani Association chairman and Hamdard managing director Hakim M Yusuf Harun Bhuiyan, former MP and AP Group chairman AFM Fakhrul Islam Munshi, former BAASS president DS Sarkar spoke, among others, on the occasion.
Herbal medicine researcher Abdus Sabur Khan presented the keynote paper.
Speaking as the chief guest, Barua said the use of natural medicine, free from side affects, would have to be increased to ensure sound health for all.
He said the grand alliance government had already recognised the production of herbal medicine as industry. ‘The government will provide required policy support to help flourish the unani and ayurvedic medicine industry.’
Currently, there are some 210 ayurvedic establishments in the country, which produce 272 types of medicines.
-With UNB input
