Inadequate rainfalls in the last three months in Sylhet region, the country's major tea producing area, have also hampered fertilization in most tea gardens, they added.

The region experienced light rains in the first week of May and there had been no rains in the last few days. The country's tea production target has been fixed at 65 million kgs for the current season, which runs between March and October.

A senior manager of a state-run tea garden at Balisera valley in Moulvibazar district said poor rainfalls and unusual fluctuation in temperature are set to play havoc with the harvest.

This season has experienced at least 30 per cent less rainfalls over the corresponding period of the last season, added the manager.

Salman Haider Chowdhury, general manager of Khadim Tea Estate in Sylhet, said if the drought-like situation continues, the production may fall short of target.

The country's tea industry had the highest-ever production of over 59 million kg last year due to favourable weather condition.

An official of Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) said the annual target of tea production may not be achieved this year.

Usually, tea producing region experiences 400mm to 450mm rainfalls until mid-August while in this season the region has experienced below 200mm rainfalls.

Bangladesh has 160 tea estates having the production capacity of about 50 million-60 million kg.