Rasheda wins Shilu Abed Craftsperson Award

Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of Brac, hands over Shilu Abed Master Craftsperson Award 2010 to Rasheda Begum at an award giving ceremony at the city's Brac Centre Inn yesterday. On their left is Shahid Hossain Shamim. Photo: STAR

Rasheda Begum of Sribardi in Sherpur has won Shilu Abed Master Craftsperson Award 2010.
Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, founder and chairperson of Brac, handed over the award to Rasheda at an award giving ceremony at the city's Brac Centre Inn yesterday.
The award, made available courtesy of Shilu Abed Memorial Trust in association with Brac and National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB), carries a crest, a certificate and Tk 1 lakh.
The award recognises outstanding contribution to the crafts industry.
To mark 12 years of the award, the organisers decided to present the award to a craftsperson for lifetime achievement from now onwards.
Chandra Shekhar Shaha, one of the members of the jury committee, spoke on the grave crisis of the crafts industry.
He stressed the need for proper patronisation and preservation of the works to save the country's glorious crafts industry from extinction.
He also suggested making a database of the craftsperson.
Shahid Hossain Shamim, president of NCCB, said they have a plan to bring out a directory of the craftsperson from all over the country.
Educationist Suraiya Ahmed gave a brief account of the life and works of Shilu Abed, one of the pioneers of the country's crafts industry and former adviser to Aarong.
Receiving the award, Rasheda said a significant change had taken place in her life after she started doing craftwork.
She wants to continue working in the sector as long as she could, she added.
Rafiqul Islam of Shilu Abed Memorial Trust and Munira Imdan of NCCB also spoke.
Lady Abed, Managing Director of Brac Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali, Mahin Khan, fashion designer and daughter of Shilu Abed, were also present.
An exhibition was also held at the Brac Centre Inn where craftworks of Rasheda and previous years' winners were put on display.