Bangladesh Sericulture Board

Bangladesh Sericulture Board (BSB) located at Rajshahi, the Board was established in 1978 under a Presidential Ordinance (Ordinance 1977), and was entrusted with some specific functions to render welfare services to persons engaged in sericulture and to the silk industry. It consists of four full-time and seven part-time members. The chairman is the chief executive of the Board.

The main objectives of the BSB are (i) to plan and develop sericulture and the silk industry; (ii) to undertake, assist or encourage scientific, technological and economic research and training in sericulture; and (iii) to devise means for improved methods of cultivation of mulberry, castor, and other related plants.

The Board has 14 nurseries, 39 centres and 159 sub-centres in different parts of the country. The Bangladesh Sericulture Research and Training Institute is under the control of the Bangladesh Sericulture Board. Since its inception, sericulture activities have been expanded in 48 districts and 202 upazilas in the country and about 10 million mulberry have been planted. These activities have generated employment for more than 5 million people. Cocoon production has increased to more than one million kg. A number of NGOs are now involved in the sericulture programme and have used it to generate employment for the rural poor. Many silk factories have been established in different places of the country with the support of BSB; and more than 11,000 people have got training in sericulture under the programmes of BSB. [M Whahidul Islam] [Islam, Md Wahedul Professor, Institute of Biological Sciences, Rajshahi University]