Bangladesh's tea production rose to 96.7 million kilogram (9.6 crore kg), exceeding the annual target by 16 million kg (1.6 crore kg), revealed the Bangladesh Tea Board (BTB).

AKM Rafikul Haque, acting director of BTB's Project Development Unit, confirmed Bangla Tribune about the new record.

Tea production in 2018 was 82.13 million kg (8.21 crore kg), but the highest annual production was recorded in 2016 with 85.5 million kg (8.55 crore kg,) said BTB's deputy planning director, Md Munir Ahmed.

There are currently 162 tea estates in the country, of which 92 are located in Moulvibazar.

Chairman of BTB Sylhet branch, Golam Mohammad Shibly, said although tea production had gone up, they were not getting a fair price for their produce.

Shibly, who is also general manager at Finlay Tea Estate's Bharuara division, said all kinds of substandard tea are smuggled from India, which has adversely affected the local tea business.

He urged the authorities to stop this smuggling of subpar tea from India and ensure a fair price for locally produced tea.