Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Hard Times

One of the weaving hubs of the country in Sirajganj, is in dire straits due to the lack of policy support from the government. Dull business spread a pall of anxiety over the future of the 15 lakh people dependent on this weaving industry in the district.
Eight upazilas of Sirajganj district are famous for independent weaving units for a long time. They are Belkuchi, Shahzadpur, Chowhali, Ullapara, Kamarkhanda, Sirajganj Sadar, Kazipur and Raiganj. According to Bangladesh Tant Board officials, there are about two lakh weaving factories in these eight upazilas. Of them, about 1.35 lakh are handlooms while the rest are powerlooms. About three lakh people work in the handloom factories, while about one lakh work in the powerloom units. About 15 lakh people, directly and indirectly, are dependent on the weaving industry.
Weavers in Sirajganj mainly devote themselves to weaving saris, lungis and gaamchhas (locally made towels). These products are supplied to different parts of the district and also exported to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Burma, Malaysia and Germany.
Sources said local weavers have added modern technology to their traditional craft to increase production. Local weavers have been doing brisk business due to easy availability of raw materials, such as dye and yarn, reasonable prices of such materials and good communication facility. However, of late, the weaver community is facing quite a few problems. Continuous political turmoil and a hike in the prices of raw materials have presented some irksome problems hindering the workings of the weaving industry.
The sources also said that weavers in Sirajganj used to earn around Tk. 100 crore per week, but the figure has taken a nosedive to Tk. 20-25 crore a week due to the recent political troubles.
Suroj Mian, owner of a weaving factory in Chhatiantoli village under Sirajganj Sadar upazia, said, “I had 50 weaving machines, but I closed 15 of them as I can’t procure necessary raw materials from the market due to continuous political turmoil. For the same reason, I can’t even supply my products to the market on a regular basis.” Frequent hartals and blockade programmes have now put weavers in a precarious position, he added.
Fakir Chand, a handloom worker of the same area, said that his family members are passing their days in misery as he, the only bread-earner of the lot, has not been getting regular wages due to a drastic fall in sales during the recent political unrest. He also said that his co-workers are facing the same consequences.
Mozammel Haque, president of the Paikosha Primary Handloom Association, said that a large number of people are dependent on the weaving industry of the district. “But the weaving sector is about to loss its glory. Many people are leaving their professions after incurring frequent losses,” he added.
He said a bell (10 bundles) of cotton is now being sold for Tk. 45,000 in the market, while the same amount of cotton was sold at Tk. 24,000 about two years back. A section of unscrupulous spinning mills owners have created a syndicate that has increased the price of yarn, he alleged.
He also said, a tola of dye is now being sold for Tk. 80 to Tk. 100 at different markets, against the price of Tk. 27 to Tk. 30 two years back.
Similarly, the price of a handloom or pitloom machine was around at Tk. 8,000 about two years ago. It has increased to Tk. 16,000 to Tk. 18,000. The price of a powerloom machine was around Tk. 45,000 about two years back, but it is now being sold for Tk 1.90 lakh. The prices of all necessary raw materials for weaving industries have increased two-fold or more in the recent years.
Belal Hossain, president of the Belkuch Municipality Ward No-9 Primary Handloom Association, Asadul Alam, president of the Bohuli Union Ward No-1 Primary Handloom Association, and Yunus Ali, president of the Dowlatpur Union Ward No-1 Primary Handloom Association, said that the government or non-government organisations have not taken sufficient initiatives to protect local weavers. The government is not even aware of the problems, they added.
During a recent visit to different weaving factories in the district, this correspondent found most of the handloom units to be overcrowded, with inadequate accommodation facility for workers and machines. Most of these factories have insufficient hygienic sanitation facilities. The weavers work amid cotton dusts, loud sound, dye chemicals, ill-ventilation and insufficient lighting.
Sultan Mahmud, liaison officer of the Bangladesh Tant (Handloom) Board, Basic Centre, Mirpur, Sirajganj office, said that his department has started to work for the welfare of small and marginal weavers in the district since 1998. At present, they are covering four upazilas, namely Sirajganj Sadar, Belkuchi, Kazipur and Kamarkhanda. But, their activities are severely constrained due to lack of manpower, he confessed.
“We try to unite weavers by forming ward-level associations. We also provide loans to small and marginal weavers to expand their businesses. We’ve already distributed Tk. 4.73 crore among 2,242 weavers in the four upazilas. But the effort is insufficient against the huge demand,” said Sultan Mahmud.
He added that more government funds would help release the weavers from the vicious cycle of poverty.
Handloom sector in Bangladesh consists of more than 0.505 million Handlooms and 1.0 million Handloom weavers. But only 0.3 million looms are active (59 per cent of existed looms) and that provides around 620 million meters of fabric (about 40 per cent total demand of the population) annually. About more than 1.5 million people are directly and indirectly involved for their livelihood.
Handloom industry is the biggest handicraft industry in our country; it is the second largest source of rural employment after agriculture. The knowledge and skills needed for this sector transformed from their forefathers. Thus, the cottage-based industry has been build up by inheritance. Handloom fabric is more producer-driven than buyer-driven.
Handloom products are best known for their eco-friendly nature. The world is solely concentrating on ‘green technology’, therefore ‘green products’ and ‘social business concept’ to save the struggling world, where ‘Handloom technology’ could be best ‘green technology’ to fulfill basic needs of human i.e., clothing.
The Handloom sector has a great deal of potential for further value addition in the RMG sector for further meeting local needs of fabrics and expanding sales of its products directly in foreign countries. This sector is an important channel for balanced sustainable economic growth.

-With The Independent input

Related News

Remittance rises in Oct, SOBs log larger share

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Remittance inflow to Bangladesh increased by more than 21 per cent in October compared with that in the same month in the past year, as expatriates favoured official channels, mainly state-owned banks, following a significant political shift in the country on August 5. Bangladesh Bank data showed that remittance inflows reached ... Read more

Oppo celebrates tenth anniversary in Bangladesh with O Fans festival

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Emphasising celebration and appreciation, OPPO, a leading global technology brand, is excited to announce its SUPER OFFER as part of the ‘O Fans Festival’ to celebrate its 10th anniversary in Bangladesh. The festival theme, “SUPER OFFER,” highlights unforgettable experiences for its dedicated fans through exclusive prizes and substantial super discounts on ... Read more

Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Council launched

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com A new think tank, Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Council (BTTC), has started its journey in a bid to create a network of professionals and businesses to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange in the local travel, tourism and hospitality sector. The council held its first meeting at a hotel in the capital ... Read more

Ethiopian airlines set to touch Dhaka’s runway

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline in Africa and part of the Star Alliance, will begin operations in Bangladesh next Sunday with its first flight on the new Addis Ababa-Dhaka route. The airline will provide five direct flights each week, giving Bangladeshi travelers access to over 155 global destinations, including major cities ... Read more

Unilever’s 15th edition of BizMaestros launches Nov 3

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com The 15th edition of BizMaestros-UFLP, the flagship business competition of Unilever Bangladesh, embodying the “Thrill of Real Business”, is all set to begin on November 3. As a leading player in the FMCG sector, Unilever Bangladesh has been at the forefront of skill development initiatives for over six decades, establishing BizMaestros ... Read more

Banglalink introduces affordable 4G Phone in partnership with Symphony

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Banglalink and Symphony have joined forces to launch the “My First 4G Phone” campaign to make 4G technology more accessible and affordable. Through this campaign, they seek to bridge the digital divide by offering high-quality 4G phones at an unbeatable price, empowering more people to benefit from fast, reliable internet connectivity.The ... Read more

Bashundhara Toiletries introduces “Alora 2in1” Hair & Body Wash: first ever in Bangladesh

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Bashundhara Toiletries announced the launch of “Alora 2-in-1” Hair and Body Wash, an innovative product designed to simplify your daily care routine. As Bangladesh’s first 2-in-1 solution for both hair and skin, Alora offers a unique blend of premium ingredients that cleanse, nourish, and revitalize. “Alora 2-in-1” is formulated with two ... Read more

350cc Royal Enfield set for Bangladesh launch on October 21

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Ifad Motors, the manufacturer and sole distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycles in Bangladesh, is gearing up to launch the iconic motorcycle brand in the country on Monday (21 October). Four models will be introduced: Bullet, Meteor, Hunter, and Classic and the bikers will have 12 different colour options at competitive prices ... Read more

Luxury car sales slow to a near-stop

Market players blame economic and political uncertainty Jagaran Chakma Sales of luxury sedans and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) have been almost nil since July this year as customers have reined in spending amid the ongoing economic downturn and sudden political changeover in Bangladesh. According to various market insiders, sales have fallen by about 95 percent ... Read more

realme 12: The Speed Dominator launched

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com realme has unveiled its latest handset, the realme 12, in Bangladesh featuring SUPERVOOC charging, fluid performance and photographic prowess. This new device sets unprecedented standards with the ‘Born for Speed’ philosophy in the mid-range segment, reads a press release. At the core of the realme 12 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, ... Read more

TECNO mobile Bangladesh wins best retailer award 2024

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com TECNO Mobile Bangladesh has been awarded the title of the best retailer of mobile handsets at the prestigious Bangladesh retail congress . This honour is a testament to our unwavering focus on enhancing consumer satisfaction and convenience. We believe that our consumers are at the heart of our success and are ... Read more

Mastercard hold technology conference 2024

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Mastercard recently organised the “Mastercard Tech Conference Q4, 2024” at a city hotel in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with participants from various banks and financial institutions. Zakia Sultana and Sohail Alim, Directors at Mastercard, Bangladesh, inaugurated the session. Munish Jairath, Director of Technology Account Management, Vageesh Raghavendra, Manager of Technology Account Management, and ... Read more

Stellar performers in Bangladesh travel, tourism and hospitality are honoured

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com The recognition programme, first of its kind in the country, was organised by the travel and tourism publication the Bangladesh Monitor. The programme is supported by Prime Bank PLC, a private-sector financial institution whose commitment to the industry’s growth is unwavering. Online travel agency BuyTickets, travel technology provider Sabre, and tea ... Read more

Businesses urge steps on law and order

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Business leaders on Saturday sought better business climate in the country and said that issues like law and order situation, rising interest rates and other macroeconomic challenges must be addressed as these factors have impacted the economy negatively. Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Current state of the economy and outlook of ... Read more

Walton launches solar hybrid IPS

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Walton Digi-Tech Industries Limited, a sister concern of Walton Group, recently launched solar hybrid Instant Power Supply (IPS) units, which are environment friendly, renewable and affordable as well. The price caps of these IPS units start from a minimum of Tk 79,500 and maximum Tk 465,000, depending on the inverter and ... Read more

Walton to attend in Canton Fair for the fourth time

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Global electronics brand Walton is set to attend the ‘China Import and Export Fair’, widely known as the Canton Fair, for the fourth time. This prestigious event, recognized as one of the largest trade shows in the world, will see Walton showcase its latest AI-powered electronics and electrical products. The 136th ... Read more

First drone manufacturing factory to be set up in country

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladeshi company Sky Bees Limited is set to invest US$ 45.95 million to establish an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV, commonly known as drone) manufacturing industry in the BEPZA Economic Zone (BEPZA EZ). This will be the first factory to manufacture drones in the zones under BEPZA, creating employment opportunities for 55 ... Read more

OPPO A3 now available in Bangladesh

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com In a world where smartphones face constant challenges, OPPO is setting a new benchmark for durability with the launch of the OPPO A3 Series in Bangladesh. Designed as the ultimate durability champion, the OPPO A3 showcases OPPO’s commitment to enduring the rigours of daily life. Built with a robust structure to ... Read more

NBR scraps black money whitening scheme

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com The National Board of Revenue has cancelled the provision to whiten black money without scrutiny by paying a 15 percent tax. The tax administration issued a notification in this regard today. The development comes a few days after the interim government said it had decided to scrap the provision. The exemption ... Read more

BRAC Bank introduces VISA Platinum Flexi Card

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com BRAC Bank has introduced a new ‘VISA Platinum Flexi Credit Card’, exclusively designed for the youth and young professionals aspiring to elevate their lifestyle. The new credit card comes with a wide range of lifestyle, travel, hotel stay, and dine-in benefits for cardholders at a competitive annual fee, according to a ... Read more