Local silk industry in shambles

Speakers at a workshop yesterday observed that the silk industry of Bangladesh is in a bad shape and a policy of action is necessary to revive the sector.

They also suggested for an integrated policy combining the government, non-government and private sector working in the silk sector to overcome the problems.

The workshop was organised by the House of Consultants Ltd with the support of Ministry of Textiles to discuss the draft final reports on the 'National Silk Policy of Bangladesh' prepared by the House of Consultants Ltd. held at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS).

Minister for Textiles Abdul Matin Chowdhury inaugurated the function as chief guest while Syed Tanveer Hussain, Secretary to the ministry of Textiles presided over the function.

After the inaugural session, Dr.Mujibur Rahman, Managing Director of House of Consultants Ltd presented the draft report in the technical session chaired by Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Managing Director of Polli Karma Sohayak Foundation (PKSF).

The purpose of the workshop was to review and analyze the various issues and problems of the different activities of sericulture and silk sub sector highlighted in the report and the policy recommendations suggested there to arrive to a consensus of opinion.

Mujibar Rahman in the draft reports noted that currently there is no separate national policy and sectoral approach for the silk sector and added that silk sector policies form only a part of the overall textile policies which has not proved to be very effective in identifying problems and suggesting the required solutions.

He said that the basic problems facing the silk sector are the poor quality of cocoon and mulberry leaves and low level of technology.

He further said that the principle objective of the silk policy is to formulate a clear vision, specifying the basic guidelines towards a sustainable development of the sericulture and silk industry in Bangladesh, keeping in view the domestic and global market situation of raw silk and silk products.

He observed that in view of the present structure and level of employment in the silk sector, policy option for Bangladesh in the short term should be poverty alleviation through employment generation and income creation and long term option should be improvement of efficiency and commercial orientation of the process of production. "At the same time the sector may introduce such technology that will not lead to the reduction of employment but will bring about efficiency and competitiveness," he noted.

Addressing the workshop, Matin Chowdhury said that the government has taken steps to formulate a silk policy to overcome the problems and popularise the silk items at home and abroad.

He said that the desired development in the silk sector is yet to be achieved due to lack of proper coordination and cooperation among different agencies including government, private sectors and NGOs working in the sector.

The minister called upon the private sector to come up with recommendations to sort out the problems of silk industry and added that the desired result will not be obtained if the private sector does not come forward.

He also stressed for the effective marketing of the silk products as there is a worldwide demand of the silk products and added that silk industry in Bangladesh is incurring huge loss due to lack of proper marketing facilities.

Alauddin Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Silk Manufacturer Association, recommended to incorporate the use of locally produced yarn with imported yarn at a 1:10 ratio in the policy for the growth of the sector.

Addressing the workshop Ruby Ghuznavi, President of Jaitaya Karoshilpa Foundation, stressed on backward linkage development.

Engineer Manzur Faruk Chowdhury, Managing Director of Usha Silk Ltd., gave suggestions for giving preference to handloom product as the demand is high for such products in the world market.

He said that power loom machines, used in the silk industries, is obsolete and needs to be modernised.

Addressing the function, Syed Tanveer Hussain said the government would consider the recommendations of the private sector during the incorporation of the national silk policy.

A large number of participants from government, private sectors and NGOs took part in the discussion.