Rakhine weavers in Kuakata passing hard days

People involved in the weaving and tourism industries in Kuakata are hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

In line with the closure of tourism centres, the income sources of the ethnic minorities in the area remained cut off for the last one and a half years.

As a result, female traders at Rakhine Women's Market in Kuakata were facing a severe financial crisis. Several of them lost capital whereas the rest were spending days borrowing money.

The Local Government Engineering Department built the market with 14 stores around 200 years east to Kuakata Zero Point about a decade and a half ago.

The market was built to provide a source of income to the poor Rakhine women in the area.

The shopkeepers in the market witnessed an overflow of tourists even before the tourist season in the past.

In recent times, however, they lost business due to coronavirus.

During the first wave of Covid-19, many of the shopkeepers lost their capital while the second wave was putting an end to their hopes, said locals.

Chameen Rakhine, a shopkeeper in the market, said, "Before coronavirus, I used to sell over a million taka on the weekends.

"I am sitting and spending the savings now. The capital is already gone."

Another shopkeeper Machan Rakhine said, "My whole family depends on the earnings of the shop. The store is completely closed. I am having a hard time with my family members."

Both the shopkeepers demanded assistance from the government for their survival.

Luma Rakhine, secretary of Kuakata Rakhine Women's Market, said poor Rakhine women entrepreneurs are currently in dire straits. There is no government support.

Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abu Hasnat Mohammad Shahidul Haque said initiatives would be taken to help the shopkeepers of the market.

Meanwhile, in line with the stores, the looms of weavers remained closed, causing immense suffering to those related to this industry.

At least 20 Rakhine families in Misripara, about 5km northeast of Kuakata beach, make various garments including shawls, sheets, towels, Punjabis, three-piece and others.

Over 50 shops are set up in the area to sell these products. Most of these shops are also run by Rakhine families.

Tourists flock here to see the Misripara Buddhist temple, a 200-year-old temple that hosts the largest Buddhist statue in South Asia.

As no tourists visited the place during the pandemic, the Rakhine families were in dire straits.

One such weaver Bakhen Rakhine said he could not work as his already prepared goods remained unsold for a long time.

"What do I do? There is no sale, no work. I am in a lot of trouble. No one is looking for us," she said.

Mongla Ching, president of the Misripara Buddhist Temple Committee, said the only source of income for the Rakain families here was weaving products.

But these families are in financial crisis as the tourist centre is closed due to lockdown.

Despite such stagnation for a year and a half, they are not getting any help or cooperation, he added.