ZCZC
BSS-32
GAZI-TEXTILE-INDUSTRY
Govt working to improve living standard of handloom weavers: Gazi
DHAKA, Feb 16, 2021 (BSS) – In order to boost the handloom industry, Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, Bir Pratik, MP, said today the main goal of the present government is to develop the living standards of handloom weavers.
The present government will make important rules in the development of handloom industry and weavers. If any plan or policy is formulated, it is possible to improve the living standard of weavers. The ministry of textiles and jute will formulate such policy and government has worked for socio-economic development and financing of weavers.
He made the remarks while visiting the Cox’s Bazar Basic Center today. Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Suraiya Akhter Sweetie, other stakeholders, among others, were present on the occasion.
The minister said that weaving is the bearer of the tradition of Bangladesh. The industry directly employs about 9 lakh people and indirectly employs about 6 lakh people
The weaving industry meets about 28 per cent of the total textile demand of the country by producing 47.474 crore meters of cloth annually.
To meet the current capital demand of weavers, a loan of Taka 9687.35 crore has been disbursed to 46,645 marginal weavers so far (December, 2020) under the program of ‘Microcredit for Weavers’.
Sheikh Hasina Weaving Village is being constructed at Shibchar in Madaripur district and Jajira in Shariatpur adjacent to Padma Bridge. The present government will provide various raw materials including yarn dye to the weavers and international standard exhibition and training center will be constructed in the area, he said.
Most of the textile supply in Bangladesh comes from the weaving industry. Weaving industry is the largest cottage industry in Bangladesh. The role of weaving industry in the national economy is immense.
According to the latest weaving census, 40 percent of the country’s domestic textile demand is supplied by the weaving industry. The annual production of this industry is 68.70 percent.
The contribution of the weaving sector to the national economy in terms of value addition is Taka 1227 crore.
The total number of manual looms in the existing one lakh 83 thousand 512 loom units in the country is 5 lakh 5 thousand 556. The number of running looms is 3 lakh 11 thousand 851.
BSS/ND/CORR/TRAN/MR/MMA/1744HRS