After partition in 1947, it was not until 1948 that the Tea Gardens in the Sylhet District broke away from the Surmah Valley Branch of the Indian Tea Association. On 26th March 1951, an Ad-Hoc Committee of the Pakistan Tea Association was elected and in 1952 the Central Committee of the Pakistan Tea Association was officially installed. However, the Association was recognized in accordance with Government requirements in 1960, and a Certificate of Incorporation was issued by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies the same Year. After the liberation war of 1971 and the establishment of an independent Bangladesh, the Committee of the Association decided to change the name from Pakistan Tea Association to Bangladeshiyo Cha Sangsad – Bangladesh Tea Association which was approved by the Ministry of Commerce and a Certificate was issued by the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies dated 11-10-1972.
Bangladesh Tea Association has since been working as the only representative body of all tea estates of the Greater Sylhet and Chittagong districts. It is a non-profit organization that represents the interest of the owners and professional planters. The Bangladesh Tea Association and the Collective Bargaining Agents of the industry namely Bangladesh Cha Sramik Union (BCSU) and the Bangladesh Tea Estate Staff Association (BTESA) have been maintaining a congenial and productive relationship since its inception in 1948.
Bangladesh Tea Association serves as a bridge between the tea industry and other related industries, trade bodies, different Government Ministries, and regulatory bodies. BTA also discharges its role in formulating policies and effectively liaising with the Tea Board, Government Ministries in matters of taxation, industrial finance, industrial law, and other matters pertaining to the Tea industry.
BTA represents an industry that provides livelihood to 5 lakh people directly and in addition, another 5 lakh people indirectly who depend on the tea industry through transportation, packaging, tea trade, and other ancillary services related to the Industry.
