Dhaka, Oct. 22 -- A news item published a few days back about the government's announcement of 282 jute products as diversified items to help expand the export basket and local sales seems to have struck a note of confusion. It is not at all understood how mere mentioning of a long list of items as diversified jute products will actually help diversification. Spelling out the names may serve some purpose -- for identifying those as eligible for any special benefits that the government may consider to offer as an incentive. But what about the all important job of diversification?

According to the Jute Law-2017, any product, except hessian, sacking, CBC, six counts or more than that of jute yarn, where jute has been used at least 50 per ce...