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MANNAN-HANDLOOM CENSUS
Mannan directs BBS to streamline its surveys
DHAKA, April 16, 2019 (BSS) – Planning Minister MA Mannan today directed
the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) to further streamline its surveys
to be carried out nationally in the next couple of years ensuring optimum
utilization of its resources.
“There is a need to streamline the surveys to be carried out nationally by
the BBS,” he said.
The Planning Minister said this while unveiling the cover of initial
report of the Country’s 3rd Handloom Census styled ‘Handloom Census 2018′
held at the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) auditorium in the city.
Chaired by BBS Director General Dr Krishna Gain, Statistics and
Informatics Division Secretary Saurendra Nath Chakrabhartty spoke as special
guest. Director of Census Wing of BBS M Zahidul Haque Sardar gave the address
of welcome at the function.
Handloom Census Project Director Mohiuddin Ahmed made a power-point
presentation on various aspects of the project and survey findings.
Mannan suggested the BBS to have a concrete list of surveys to be
conducted nationally over the next few years as well as publishing those in
time.
Underscoring the need for checking misuse of resources in carrying out
those, he said, “We should reduce cost, but we must incur all necessary costs
which are practical.”
Mentioning that the government gives due priority on the operations of the
BBS considering the growing economy of the country, Mannan said Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina also wants that the standard of country’s official
statistics is further developed and enriched.
Noting that the squeezing and declining trend of handloom factories and
units across the country is not a matter of ’emotion’, the Planning Minister
said rather it was due to the growing trend of mechanization.
Statistics and Informatics Division Secretary said the survey showed that
the handloom workers are gradually changing their profession over the years
and there is a need to protect this handloom industry since there is a
widespread demand of ‘taat sarees.’ among the country’s women.
BBS Director General Dr Krishna Gain said that they are preparing the list
of surveys which they would carry out over the next five years.
She said that the BBS is pledge-bound to deliver utmost quality data
despite its limited resources.
The preliminary report said that the handloom units in the country are
gradually declining since 1990 due to low income in this profession,
mechanization in the handloom industry, lack of sufficient capital and
workers as well as problem in marketing.
The report said that the number of handloom factories or industries were
12,819 in 2003 which drastically came down at 581 in 2018.
It showed that the number of handloom units in 1990 was 2,12,421 which came
down at 1,83,512 in 2003 and further reduced to 1,16,006 in 2018.
Besides, the overall number of handloom workers including male and female
were 10,27,407 in 1990 which came down at 8,88,115 in 2003 and lastly at
3,01,757 in 2018.
The report cited that the number of female workers in the handloom industry
increased over the years as it reached 55.78 percent in 2018, which was 46.81
percent in 2003 and 44.35 percent in 1990. The number of female handloom
workers is high in Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts.
The report further showed that the number of handloom factories is
gradually declining as it was 0.50 percent in 2018 previously it was 6.99
percent in 2003. Chattogram and Rajshahi Divisions largely dominate the
handloom industry as 73.10 percent of the overall handloom units are in these
two divisions including 56.20 percent In Chattogram Division.
It was also found that out of the overall handloom units, 88.43 percent are
in the rural areas while the remaining 11.57 percent are in the urban areas.
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