Highlights
- World Bamboo Day is celebrated every year on 18 September.
- This year’s theme: “Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation and Design.”
- Bangladesh has 33 species of bamboo, ranking 8th in the world.
- The celebration was first recognized in 2009 at Bangkok during the 8th World Bamboo Congress.
Why Do We Celebrate Bamboo Today?
Every year on 18 September, people across the globe celebrate World Bamboo Day. This day is dedicated to spreading awareness about the importance of bamboo in daily life and its potential for innovation and sustainability.
This Year’s Theme
The 19th celebration of World Bamboo Day is being observed with the theme:
“Next Generation Bamboo: Solution, Innovation and Design.”
This theme highlights how bamboo is not just an old-fashioned material but also a modern solution for design, innovation, and sustainable development.
Read More: What I Have Done Has Never Been Done in Bangladesh’s History: Asif Nazrul
Bamboo as an Industry and Income Source
Bamboo has often been discussed negatively in society, but the reality is very different. Bamboo is now a multi-million-dollar industry with growing economic potential.
Uses of Bamboo in Daily Life
Bamboo is widely used across the world for:
- Furniture and household items
- Construction materials
- Food products
In fact, the inner part of young bamboo shoots, called bamboo shoots (বাঁশ কোড়ল), is known for its health benefits.
The Beginning of World Bamboo Day
The World Bamboo Organization was founded in 2005 to improve and promote bamboo industries worldwide. Later, on 18 September 2009, during the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok, World Bamboo Day was officially recognized.
Nearly 100 countries’ representatives attended the congress and agreed to observe the day every year. The proposal to recognize this day was given by the then president of the organization, Kamesh Salam.
Bamboo Around the World
According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Global Bamboo Resources Report:
- China has the highest number of bamboo species – 500 species.
- Brazil comes second with 232 species.
- Bangladesh is ranked 8th in the world with 33 species of bamboo.
source: DBC News
