Minister stresses support for handloom industry

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu yesterday urged the government to disburse financial loans among handloom industry entrepreneurs to boost their efforts of nurturing the traditional cloth of Bangladesh.
“The government can build up specific hand-loom areas to renovate the industry and its position. The handloom weavers have to be provided modern training facilities to sustain in the competitive market,” he said.
Supportive measures like reduced raw material prices are necessary to bring back the industry from the verge of extinction, according to the
minister.
He spoke at the launch of a book -- In the shadow of death: the tantees of Bangladesh -- at the city's Liberation War Museum.
Employment through law of the common people (ELCOP) organised the event for the book written by a group of law students of different universities and later edited by university teachers and lawyers.
The socio-economic conditions of the weavers and the crisis of the handloom industry owners have been delved into the book, said students who contributed to the writing of the book.
The traditional hand-loom industry is being ruined due to the influence of capitalism-based
industry system in the market, said Prof Mizanur Rahman, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.
Rahman said it is the state's responsibility to stand by the neglected community and provide necessary assistances.
He urged garment
owners to set up new handloom industries along with garment industries.
Prof Shah Alam, Law Commission's acting chairperson, urged the information ministry to publicise the importance and pride of the handloom industry through radio and television.
Md Rahmat Ullah, executive director of ELCOP, was also present.