, Dec. 27 -- Once hailed as the golden fiber and the backbone of Bangladesh's post-independence economy, jute now contributes less than 2% to the country's total export earnings, a sharp fall from nearly 90% in the 1970s.

Despite its vast potential, Bangladesh's jute sector continues to struggle under poor planning, outdated technology and a lack of effective policy support.

According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, export earnings from jute and jute goods have been steadily declining in recent years.

The sector earned USD 911.51 million in FY2022-23, dropping to USD 855.23 million in FY2023-24, and further down to USD 820.16 million in FY2024-25, sparking concerns over the future of what was once the country's flagship export i...