To boost demand
A month long handloom and handicrafts fair began at the premises of District Mohila Krira Sangstha on October 17 evening.
Eighty four stalls adorned with an array of clothes were set up at the fair. The District Sports Association (DSA) organised the fair under the management of Gano Chetana, an association of handloom and handicraft products businessmen in Dhaka.
Handloom and handicraft venture owners and businessmen from Dhaka, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Jamalpur, Tangail and Jessore had set up stalls at the fair to give a much needed boost to their bottom lines.
Abdul Kader, president of Gano Chetana and proprietor of A.K Silk Products from Banarasi Palli in Mirpur of Dhaka, told this correspondent that it was the company's maiden business trip to Mymensingh as part its countrywide tour.
“In recent years, the demand for handloom and handicraft products has increased manifold. This encouraged us to wait for better days for the industry.
“Our high quality products are in great demand in many countries, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka , Dubai , Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom,” said Kader.
Saris with various designs and colours like banarasi silk, buti banarasi, katan, phulkali, kanjivarom, baluchuri and jamdani are on display at the fair to draw women of different age groups, Kader added. “If the price of raw materials like thread and colour is controlled by the government, this sector has the opportunity to earn considerable foreign exchange, emerging as highly profitable industry,” asserted Kader.
Mohammad Anis, proprietor of Apon Textile from Narsingdi, said that they hoped for better sales in greater Mymensingh which is famous for its handloom and handicraft products.
Jahangir Madbar, proprietor of Madbar Collection from Mirpur in Dhaka, said that a variety of attire with innovative designs will attract visitors and give a boost to sales.
“On the opening day, the rush of visitors was reasonable and it will increase everyday,” said a hopeful Mohammad Akhtar Munshi, proprietor of Akhtar Jamdani from Narayanganj.
Housewife Sharmin Sultana Snighdha, who visited the fair on the opening day told this correspondent, “We should revive the demand for traditional clothes to save the livelihoods of thousands of people involved in this profession and to preserve the country's tradition.”
Another visitor Gul-e-Ferdousi Asha from Sherpur said that the collection was good and the price is reasonable.
Shirin Akhtar Sumi, a housewife from the town said that as the demand for handloom and handicraft products was increasing, more variation was needed in this sector to draw the attention of the younger generation.
A discussion was held marking the opening ceremony. Principal Motiur Rahman, MP addressed the ceremony as chief guest.
Among others, Police Superintendent of Mymensingh, Khandaker Golam Faruq; Additional Deputy Commissioner Kazi Ashraf Uddin and DSA secretary Professor Amir Ahmed Chowdhury Ratan spoke on the occasion with Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh Lokman Hossain Miah in the chair.
Jahangir Madbar, secretary of Gano Chetana conducted the inaugural session.
The speakers said that handloom and handicraft products are in great demand today, as evidenced by hundreds of shops stocked with such products in many parts of the capital. To give a boost the country's economy, they concluded, it was necessary to promote such products. .
Later, the chief guest inaugurated the fair.
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