Bogura Silk Seed Research Station, a century-old facility at Bonani on the city’s entrance, has resumed full production this year after overcoming a labour shortage. The station, one of Bangladesh’s two silk seed research facilities, restarted partial operations in 2022 after a long closure. It still faces a major shortage of permanent staff despite regular work by an average of 20 farmers.

Established in 1905 on 101 bighas of land, the facility produces silk seeds, raw silk cocoons and mulberry saplings used to feed silkworms. Over the past three years, it produced 1,654 kilograms of raw silk cocoons, which were sent to silk factories in Joypurhat and Rajshahi. It also supplies an average of 3,000 kilograms of raw silk annually and distributed 160,000 mulberry saplings nationwide last year.

Of the station’s 30 approved posts, 25 are vacant, and its acting assistant director also oversees two other districts. Sources said production stagnated after the facility was previously leased to private operators. Industry stakeholders say government support, recruitment and modern technology could help restore its heritage while supporting rural employment and domestic demand for silk yarn, estimated at nearly 300 metric tons.