The furniture and joinery industries of Bangladesh mostly use manual labour and hand tools both in manufacture and in surface finishing. Modern woodworking machines have been introduced on a very small scale in the recent past, but they have not met with much success due to the lack of proper technical know-how
and trained personnel. These industries are expected to expand. As the general economic conditions improve and per capita income rises, there will be need for an increased production of furniture and joinery.

An investigation was made to determine the possibility of making sulphate pulp from rubber wood (Hevea brasiliensis). The pulp obtained was low in yield and the permanganate number was very high ranging from 12.35 to 24.44 predicting a high bleach requirement. The physical strength properties of the pulps were moderate. Rubber wood pulp showed promise to be used for making moderate quality wrapping, bag and average quality printing papers.

Jam (Syzygium grandis), because of its availability and strength properties, was considered for substituting garjan ( Dipterocarpus spp. ) for making railway sleepers. Since treatment with creosote is normally the part of the manufacturing process for railway sleepers from nondurable wood, jam heartwood was treated with Lowry empty cell process using 40 ; 60 creosote-petroleum oil preservative in order to develop a treating schedule for jam sleeper. Treatments were performed with the various combinations of treating schedules with or without the pretreatment ot steaming-vacuum or incision. None of the treatments, however, could achieve penetration and retention recommended for the purpose of railway sleepers