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Weavers of traditional Monipuri-style clothing in greater Sylhet passed busy days ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr as sales and prices have been good amid the ongoing festive season, which contributes most of their annual earnings.
Traders from all over Bangladesh started arriving at markets in the region about a week ahead of Ramadan and sales have since reached their peak with the month now at an end.
The demand for Monipuri clothing, particularly saris, is quite high in major metropolitan areas such as Dhaka and Chattogram.
The saris cost between Tk 700 to Tk 20,000 depending on the design and materials used but the demand for mid-priced products ranging from Tk 1,500 to Tk 5,500 is especially high this time, traders say.
During a recent visit to producing hubs such as the Adampur, Madhabpur and Radhanagar areas in Moulvibazar, this correspondent found that wholesalers were still buying saris targeting the Eid market.
Wahid Mia, a cloth trader from Chattogram, said that while he already bought Monipuri saris at the start of Ramadan, he has come again to purchase another Tk 1.5 lakh worth of the product in face of high demand.
“The demand for expensive saris is less while mid-priced ones are more popular,” he added.
Husna Begum, a customer at the Ramnagor Monipuri Market in Sreemangal upazila, said she came to buy mid-priced saris for herself and her relatives on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
“I am happy to see such a diverse collection of saris are available,” she added.
Dipti Devi, a weaver from Adampur village in Kamalganj upazila, said she has been working round the clock to cater to incoming orders.
But other than saris, the weavers also produce shawls, bed sheets and covers as well as women’s three-piece salwar kameez sets.
Sadhona Debi, a weaver from the Lamabazar area of Sylhet city, said that they are getting better prices this year thanks to the increased presence of wholesalers.
Buyer turnout had been poor for the past three years or so due to complications stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing economic crises.
This year, Monipuri saris are being sold in different parts of the country while also being exported abroad, creating huge pressure for the weavers, she added.
Monita Chanu, owner of Chinglen Monipuri Handlooms, said weavers like her passed miserable days amid the Covid-19 pandemic, after which their recovery was stifled by higher prices for yarn and dye.
Still, keeping in mind the interest of buyers, they have produced attractive saris, three-pieces and even Punjabis for this Eid, she added.
Lakshmikanta Singh, executive director of the Ethnic Community Development Organisation, said Monipuri clothing is exported to the UK and US after meeting local demand, which typically soars ahead of Eid.
Rabi Singha Rajesh, member secretary of the Monipuri Cultural Academy, said considering how traditional Monipuri handloom fabrics have good demand at home and abroad, training and development centres have been established in various places of Sylhet under government initiative.
Besides, loans are also provided to weavers under schemes targeting small-and-medium enterprises.
But other than training and loans, the most important thing would be to make raw materials readily available in the country, he added.
Rajesh then said that for the global expansion of this industry and protection of weavers, interest rates on the loans provided to them should be reduced.
So, he demanded the government provide a separate loan facility for Monipuri weavers.
Azharul Islam Sagor, liaison officer of the Bangladesh Handloom Board in Kamalganj, said they are now giving loans only to “real” Monipuri weavers.
He went on to say that yarn prices are higher as imports have become costlier in face of growing international prices while transportation costs have risen as well.
(TDS)
