Rubber industry suffers from low prices
Rubber cultivation started in Bangladesh during the 1980s. Photo: Mintu Deshwara
The rubber industry in Sylhet is facing tough times due to a continuous fall in prices.
As a result of their growing frustration, many plantation owners in the region are now even considering cutting down their rubber trees to make room for other plants.
According to Bangladesh Rubber Development Corporation, natural rubber is made by processing a milky liquid or latex that oozes from cuts made on rubber trees. Growers sometimes call it white gold .
Rubber cultivation started in Bangladesh during the 1980s. Since then, numerous public and private rubber plantations have been established on about 60,000 acres of land.