Varieties of handicraft, artistic toys and luxury items are being made from the throw-away hard, oval-shaped shells of coconuts in Chuadanga district.
Usually, these shells of Coconuts are thrown and dumped elsewhere. But, the recent initiative of use the shells to make handicrafts has changed the scenario. Many unemployed people are also now getting interested to make useable and art crafts with these Coconut shells.
Khalid Bin Walid, a young person of Satgaripara area under Chauadanga Municipality is the chief keymaker of this initiative.
He is making some 250 items including decorated bird's nest, soap case, lamp shed, salt pot, show-pieces, ornaments, utensils, flower vase, miniature boat, pen-stand, hurricane, Kettle, spoon and cups with these shells. The goods made from the shells are being sold not only in the local markets but also are exported to various countries of Europe and Asia.
Khaid Bin Walid is a post-graduate with major in Chemistry from Rajshahi University. While studying Environmental Chemistry as a part of his graduation course, he thought to make useable goods from throw away items and to free this country from the grip of environmental
pollution.
After the completion of his studies, he did not pursue for any job. Rather he started to set a workshop (factory) at his village Satgari. He then hired a renowned Carpenter Alamin from neighbouring Shankarchandra village. Then, they went to some districts of Barishal to watch the works with the Coconut shells in various workshops there. After getting idea from there, they started to make handicrafts in their workshop in Chuadanga at a small scale. Later, they excel further with their job by watching YouTube and other videos.
Form 2018, Khalid Bin Walid started to make handicrafts and various luxury, fashion items commercially in his workshop entitled ' Rodo Handicrafts'. He procured Coconut shells from Jashore and Khulna at a rate of Tk 15 per kilogram. Some expert carpenters and artisans were employed to make various items with those shells using .zother materials like wood, bambo, yarn, glue and Varnish of various colours. Now, 8 t0 10 artisans and carpenters work at his workshop. An artisan can make three to four items with these shells in a day.
There is a tremendous demand of the luxury, fashion items and handicrafts in the country because these are very nice to look at and are better in quality. These items are also completely environmental friendly.
Each items made from the shells is sold at Tk 100 to 800 based of size and quality. Now, these items are also being exported abroad. Various items made in this workshop worth about Tk 50,000 are now being sold to various places of the country per month.
Sobuj Sabid, Manager of the workshop informed, traders from various districts arrived at the factory to purchase goods from there. Many persons also order those through online.
Artisan Alamin Hossain informed, he learnt to make various items from Coconut shells from the artisans of Barishal and from watching the YouTube. He added, he gets a salary of Tk 10,000 per month.
Khalid Bin Walid, Director of Rodo Handicrafts informed, he took the initiative to make various items from Coconut shells in a bid to decrease environment pollution. The handicrafts made in his workshops have a tremendous demand in the country and abroad. Many unemployed people have also been provided with jobs at his workshop and outside the workshop.
Principal Siddikur Rahman, President of Environment Movement of Chuadanga district lauded the initiatives of the young entrepreneur of making environment friendly handicrafts using coconut shells. He hoped more people would come forward to set up such environment friendly industries.
Shamsuzzaman, Deputy Director of BSCIC, Chuadanga, informed making of various handicrafts using coconut shells is undoubtedly a novice initiative.
He assured to extend all possible cooperation to Rodo Handicrafts.