Handicrafts
“Loving handicrafts, shinning personality”
The treasures of folk and handicrafts of Bangladesh are much richer than its size and diversity. The vast repertoire of handicraft includes jamdani, shatranji, metal art, conch art, pottery, oyster art, puppet art, brass-art, bamboo-cane art, shola art etc. Besides Nakshi Kantha, Nakshi Shika, Shital Patti, clay plaques, leaf and straw objects, folk paintings etc. are the signs of folk and handicrafts of Bengal.
Traditionally, different types of products are made in different regions of the country; somewhere bamboo-cane, somewhere nakshi kantha, somewhere terracotta, and somewhere or Shatranji. Majority of the women are working in the Handicrafts industry and where most entrepreneurs do business with very little capital. Gazipur, Pabna, Munshiganj, Bogra, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Tangail and Jessore districts of Bangladesh are famous for handicrafts.
Handmade products are now more preferred by consumers in the developed world. Entrepreneurs of small and medium industries are involved in handicrafts. Handicraft products are produced entirely from indigenous raw materials. These raw materials are collected from the rural environment. Marginalized people are directly involved in the production of these products. There has been massive employment here at the rural level. Bangladeshi entrepreneurs have to compete with Vietnam, Thailand, China; India in terms of prices of handmade products in the global market. Bangladesh is maintaining the continuity of export of handicrafts by producing quality products.
Main raw materials of handicrafts are palm leaves, hogla leaves, palm leaves, jute, cane, baboo, kashful tree, water hyacinths (kachuripana), young palm leaves, keshakhar, leather products, paper, tile, bamboo, sandhya leaves, banana leaves, straw, a variety of foliage including chaff, paddy straw, wood, grass, and clay and metal materials.
The products produced from those raw materials include; baskets, table mats, and small bags, tubs made of bamboo, vases, buckets, rugs, trays, flower baskets, egg containers, paposh, wraps, hats, mirror frames, dining table mats, paper, paper dolls, notebooks, one-time glasses, plates, different types of baskets, table lamps, place mats, different types of trays, wraps, fruit baskets, tissue boxes, jewelry boxes, window curtains, west paper baskets, drinks bottle holders etc. which are being exported in 32 countries.
There are also shopping bags, vegetable bags, laundry baskets, sharvin trays, square trays, oval trays, bowls, kansarul sets, sikhe bowls, fish sticks etc. made from young palm leaves and case straw. Fruit and fruit baskets, spoon baskets, nursery pots, floor mats, bags, baskets, tiffin boxes, file boxes, flower baskets, table runners, various types of showpieces, handbags dog and cat sleeping baskets, umbrella baskets, fruit baskets, round and square baskets, flat basket (Dala), saving tray baskets, toy baskets, flower pot baskets, home and office waste baskets, cutlery baskets, suitcase baskets, jewelry, storage baskets, fish table mats, cylinder baskets etc are made from hogla leaves, palm leaves, sandhya leaves, banana leaves, straw, sedges, kashful straw and jute. These products made by rural people are being exported to about 45 countries of the world.
Entrepreneurs are also exporting various types of handicrafts including shataranji, baskets of different shapes, jute bags, paposh, terracotta, candles, nakshi kantha, bird cages, rattan items, leather coin boxes. Besides, a variety of fascinating baskets, urns, wall hangings, handbags, travel bags, toys, ashtrays, cups, carvings etc. different types of handcrafted nakshi kanthas, bed sheets, sofa cushions, paposh, wall mats, fatwa, nakshi rokomari punjabi, women’s handbags etc.
These products are being exported to the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Canada, Sweden, Spain, Brazil, Peru, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, etc. Moreover, the handicrafts of Nakshi Kantha are now being exported to the developed countries of the world including Europe and America in addition to the neighboring countries of India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
According to Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association (Bangla Craft), there are currently about 450 handicraft entrepreneurs in the country. According to Export Development Bureau (EPB) data, exports of handicrafts have been steadily increasing for recent years. According to Bangla Craft, Bangladesh Handicrafts Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the annual domestic market of handicrafts in the country is about 12 thousand crore taka. By 2023, the global market size for handicrafts could reach USD 526 billion.
Export of handicrafts plays a huge role in the economy of Bangladesh. Today, apart from contributing to foreign exchange, handicrafts are also contributing to the economy in terms of employment and utilization of domestic natural resources.