Govt takes Tk 10-million project to develop ‘sataranji palli’ in Rangpur

The government has undertaken a Taka 10-million project to protect and develop the traditional ‘sataranji’ (handmade colourful carpet) industry.
Under the project, Bangladesh Small and Cottage and Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has started the process to develop a ‘sataranji palli (village)’ with 116 families of weavers at Nishbetganj in sadar upazila of Rangpur district.
The BSCIC has already submitted a report to the government after feasibility study.
BSCIC sources said the wavers in Nishbetganj had been preparing eye-catching floor-mat, wall-mat, bedcover and other items separately in an unplanned way for long. About 1,200 women are engaged in the industry.
BSCIC Rangpur Deputy Director Sankar Kumar Das said they have sent a proposal to the industries ministry to allocate Taka 50,000 loan for each weaver family of Nishbetganj and develop a ‘sataranji village’ with 138 looms now on operation in the area.
Besides, there is a proposal to train up the weavers, supply them with designs and improve production and marketing system.
The BSCIC director said it is possible to earn Taka 300 crore annually by exporting sataranjis, if the industry can be developed.
Currently the weavers at Nishbetganj are producing 2,48,044 square feet products annually. The market price of the product is about Taka 104 crore.
The production of this items now requires 6 metric tonnes of cotton and 24 metric tonnes of yarn.
Sources said the industry would expand further, if the weavers get loans and designs along with better production and marketing system.
The sataranjis of Bangladesh are of high demand in European and other countries.
Arifa Begum and Morsheda of Nishbetganj said they make sataranji side by side with other household works.
Two female workers have to work together to make a handmade carpet. Therefore, the income from the carpet is being shared.
They need three to four days to prepare a 35-square feet carpet. They get Taka 12 to 15 as remuneration for one square foot.

Courtesy of BSS via The New Nation