The enchanting sound of handloom weaving machines in Araihazar and Rupganj is fading out as most of the handloom factories of this area are on the way of extinction because of multifaceted problems.
Handloom industry in Bangladesh had a glorious past, uncertain present and an obscure future due to a plethora of barriers that are acting behind the scene. Reportedly, about 55,000 handloom factories in Narayanganj have become inoperative over the past five years with many workers, labourers and weavers losing their jobs. Most of the owners of the factories have changed their profession because of the price hike of raw materials, high interest rate of bank loans, labour crisis, and above all, lack of government patronage and financial backing. Also lack of information to weavers regarding various government policies and schemes is a significant cause for the dwindling future of the weaver community. Poor marketing and insufficient market linkage outside the state ails the industry from growing and earning more revenue. As the quantity of our handloom product is very low and we only produce a handful of identified products, we have not been able to expand our product market both within and outside the country.
The government should incorporate a quota
system for handloom industry, under which,
some special products which have high demand
in national and international markets,
can exclusively be produced
The government must develop a comprehensive plan to conserve the traditional handloom industries that could include silk, cotton, jamdani etc. Also the government should explore potential international market and conduct market research to expand the market of Bangladeshi silk and other handloom products. Government and non-government agencies should come forward with financial, technical and
policy supports for development of handloom
industry in Bangladesh.
