Weavers busy as sari demand rises for Eid

Hundreds of weavers knitting Jamdani in Sherpur and Banarasi in Rangpur are passing a busy time to meet higher demand of customers ahead of Eid-ul-fitr.
Hytapara village, near Sherpur town, has worn a festive look with the craftsmen busy creating designs on the exclusive brand of sari round the clock.  Sales have picked up due to higher demand for hand-woven Jamdani sari, shopkeepers say.
Fare prices of the products have made the weavers hopeful of high profit this year, said sources.
Kamrul Hassan, owner of Somon Jamdani Cottage Factory said he set up the factory in 2006 with an investment of only Tk 9,000 at Hytapara village after he took training at a weaver’s workshop in Narayanganj.
Now, he has a total of 20 weaving machines and employed 50 men and women. Seeing his success, others in the village have set up five more Jamdani cottage factories. Every factory has at least five weaving machines.
These saris are being supplied to different shops in Dhaka on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, said sources. Currently, a worker is now earning Tk 12,000 while a helper is getting in the range between Tk 5,000 and Tk 7,000 per month. A sari produced from this weaving workshop is being sold at a minimum of Tk 4,000. Apart from this, a sari with a value of Tk 10,000-15,000 is also made on order, But bad road communication from the district town and lack of power supply are hampering the production of the Jamdani saris. Besides, vehicles, except
for motorbikes and CNG auto rickshaws, cannot run on the road. Production will be doubled if sufficient electricity is provided to the village. Yet, profit is better in spite of several obstacles, said Jamdani Cottage Industry Owner and Weaver Kamrul Hassan.
Sadar UNO Irin Farjana said different steps have been taken to inspire unemployed youths to set up cottage industries across the country, so that they can become self-reliant.  
In  Rangpur, weavers at ‘Banarasi Palli’ in Gangachara upazila are also passing busy time ahead of the Eid festival.
Source said Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation has granted Tk 2.5 crores for the development of the Banarasi Palli.
Banarasi Palli was established in 2005 with one hundred weavers. The weavers are making top class Banarasi sari, which are sold in Dhaka and other parts of the country.
During that time 500 labourers used to work in the industry. But after few months due to want of money a number of the factories were shut down.
However, weaver Rostom Mia said they are very busy making saris at present.

Weavers busy as sari demand rises for Eid

Hundreds of weavers knitting Jamdani in Sherpur and Banarasi in Rangpur are passing a busy time to meet higher demand of customers ahead of Eid-ul-fitr. Hytapara village, near Sherpur town, has worn a festive look with the craftsmen busy creating designs on the exclusive brand of sari round the clock. Sales have picked up due to higher demand for hand-woven Jamdani sari, shopkeepers say. Fare prices of the products have made the weavers hopeful of high profit this year, said sources. Kamrul Hassan, owner of Somon Jamdani Cottage Factory said he set up the factory in 2006 with an investment of only Tk 9,000 at Hytapara village after he took training at a weavers workshop in Narayanganj. Now, he has a total of 20 weaving machines and employed 50 men and women. Seeing his success, others in the village have set up five more Jamdani cottage factories. Every factory has at least five weaving machines. These saris are being supplied to different shops in Dhaka on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, said sources. Currently, a worker is now earning Tk 12,000 while a helper is getting in the range between Tk 5,000 and Tk 7,000 per month. A sari produced from this weaving workshop is being sold at a minimum of Tk 4,000. Apart from this, a sari with a value of Tk 10,000-15,000 is also made on order, But bad road communication from the district town and lack of power supply are hampering the production of the Jamdani saris. Besides, vehicles, except for motorbikes and CNG auto rickshaws, cannot run on the road. Production will be doubled if sufficient electricity is provided to the village. Yet, profit is better in spite of several obstacles, said Jamdani Cottage Industry Owner and Weaver Kamrul Hassan. Sadar UNO Irin Farjana said different steps have been taken to inspire unemployed youths to set up cottage industries across the country, so that they can become self-reliant. In Rangpur, weavers at Banarasi Palli in Gangachara upazila are also passing busy time ahead of the Eid festival. Source said Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation has granted Tk 2.5 crores for the development of the Banarasi Palli. Banarasi Palli was established in 2005 with one hundred weavers. The weavers are making top class Banarasi sari, which are sold in Dhaka and other parts of the country. During that time 500 labourers used to work in the industry. But after few months due to want of money a number of the factories were shut down. However, weaver Rostom Mia said they are very busy making saris at present.