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Youths urged to promote Jamdani globally


Published : 08 Sep 2019 08:33 PM | Updated : 04 Sep 2020 11:51 PM

Speakers at a seminar on Saturday called upon the country’s young generation to come forward to promote one of our most precious heritage in global markets. They called upon the youths to be innovative entrepreneurs to promote the intangible cultural heritage of Bangladesh.

They made the call at a seminar titled ‘Jamdani Past, Present and Future’ held at Women Voluntary Association in Dhanmondi as part of a five-week Jamdani Festival in the capital. Lina Rashid, General Manager of SME and Special Programmes Department of Bangladesh Bank, said that the Jamdani producers of the country are very talented but they are financially poor.

“Youths generally should be innovative entrepreneurs to promote the country’s Jamdani as it’s a reorganisation in international markets. So we can earn huge currencies by selling the items,” she said. Ashraful Alam COO of Aarong said that there is huge number of youths in the country. “So, we can utilize them properly. Policy and financial support are needed to promote the product,” he also said.

Mominul Islam, Managing Director and CEO of IPDC Finance Ltd, said, “Once we felt proud of Jamdani. But we could not keep it. If we try again then we can bring our prestigious period.” Rokia Afzal Rahman, leading entrepreneur and a former adviser to caretaker government of Bangladesh, said, “We have to think about Jamdani’s markets across the world including high productivities and its future as well.” Shafiqul Islam, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, said that it is time to think about the sector.

“Jamdani is our heritage so we should preserve it. The government is ready to help its producers. Young generation can come forward to promote the sector. The government is also looking for such sector where can be funded. Come forward to develop the sector and the country’s economy,” he also said.

The National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB) and Bengal Foundation are organising the festival at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi-27. It is open to all every day, except Sundays, from 12pm to 8pm until October 12. The exhibition is displaying 30 Jamdani pieces crafted by leading fashion and handicraft houses including Aarong, Arannya, Kumudini Handicraft and Tangail Saree Kutir.

Jamdani is typically woven using a mixture of cotton and gold threads. The traditional art of weaving jamdani was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity In 2013. Bangladesh received geographical indication (GI) status for Jamdani Saree in 2016.