PRESENTATION ON BANGLADESH STUDIES

Course no. 304

Topic: Cottage Industry Of Bangladesh Submitted to : Swadip Bhattacharjee Lecturer Department of Management Studies University Of Chittagong Submitted by: Hriti Barua ID no. 10302068 BBA, 3rd Year Department Of Management Studies University Of Chittagong.

Introduction

Bangladesh has a rich and living tradition of craft and textiles that are closely linked to its vibrant cultural heritage. The crafts and textiles produced by its artisans reflect a heritage of thousands of years of history, folk music and literature. Firmly rooted in tradition the crafts are closely linked to the countries topography and climate, to its cultural mix and its age old customs

From the ancient age , cottage industry is growing at their own flow. the raw material, source and market demand of cottage industry is different from area to area. It includesHandloom industry Handicraft industry Pottery industry Bamboo craft industry Jute craft industry etc.

Handloom industry

Handloom industry is the biggest handicraft industry in our country. Bangladesh can proudly claim to have many branches of this ancient art, of which the best known and most popular is the specialty Jamdani, which is one of the varieties of the famous Dhaka Muslin or Mul-mul (Zohir, 1996). Handloom products have shown decisive upward trend in the export market since 1972 and Bangladeshi handloom products with their distinctive design and superior quality have created a niche for themselves in overseas markets (Sobhan, 1989). Though the employment opportunity in this sector has been squeezed in the last 15 years, this sector is still offering employment to nearly 0.9 million weavers in rural area The product range of handloom is simply amazing and includes Muslin Jamdani Sharees, Bedcovers, Bed sheets, Tapestry, Upholstery, Place mats, Rugs or Blankets, Satranji, Crochet, Muslin, Tribal textiles, Silk fabrics, Sofa covers, Block Prints, Table cloth and Napkins, Towels, Dusters, Kitchen towels, Gents, Ladies and Baby Wear and Shirts, Punjabis, and other household linen in printed, plain or embroidered Khadi This ancient and most important cottage industry of Bangladesh is now on the way of extinction because of various problems and barriers adjacent to this industry. Weavers in our country dont get quality raw materials at right time and at right place

Pottery Industry

The potters of Bangladesh follow traditional methods and have over hundreds of years been crafting pottery to meet the domestic, ritual and ceremonial needs of the community around them. The terracotta temples built during 15th to 17th show the skill and imagination of the potters at their best. Clay items are made in Bangladesh in two traditional ways: On the wheels and by hand. In Bangladesh's capital Dhaka there are at least 700 shops of decoration pieces of pottery items, Obaidullah, who uses single name, president of Dhaka Metropolitan Pottery Industry Multi- Purpose Association (DMPIMPA) told Xinhua. Pottery industry in Bangladesh eyed a new ray of hope when the state-owned Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industry Corporation (BSCIC) arranged a fair of pottery items first in 1982 in Dhaka and since then the industry was inching towards the current form.

Bamboo Craft

Bamboo craft traditional craft using bamboo as raw material. For hundreds of years local people were used to weave traditional mats used as floor mat or bed mats in a bamboo structured loom fixed on the floor. Twenty-six species of bamboo are available in Bangladesh. Three species that are used for industrial purposes are muli, talla and baira. Bamboo products such as, chai, khalui juita jhap (hanging door or lid), belki and darma (screen), etc are used in every aspect of rural life. Lately the use of bamboo furniture has become fashionable. Bamboo is also being used to make attractive ashtrays, flower vases, cosmetic boxes, picture frames, mirror frames, pens, etc

Jute Crafts

In the world of fashion and design jute is a popular item for upholstery and other household items. Growing international interest for diversified and lifestyle jute products have prompted Bangladeshi jute manufacturers and exporters to develop value-added jute products like handicrafts, shopping bags, beach bags, sports bags, travel bags, wine bags, jewelry bags etc. The best quality jute for crafts is the white bogi paat or the sturdy deshi tosha grown mainly in the districts of Dhaka, Mymensingh and tangail , making them the largest centers for jute crafts. In the skilled hands of the women an intricate tracery of designs emerged from the silken skeins of jute to produce plant holders, bags, table mats, wall hangings, floor coverings hammocks and other craft objects which have swept the markets within the country and abroad. Whereas more than 200,000 women worked with jute crafts in the peak years of 1978-79, today the much diminished international market demand has forced many of them to move away from this field. A great deal of effort is being invested by non-profit organisations in Bangladesh and abroad, to develop a network of alternative marketing opportunities to sustain the women who still depend on it as a major source of income for the entire family

Nakshi Kantha

Nakshi kanthas are the best examples of the embroideries of Bangladesh. It also symbolizes how women preserve, recreate and renew life forms. Stories are told of how women met together in their courtyards, to stitch the kanthas for family members Distinguishable forms of embroidery began to appear regionally, and just as the material varied depending on the loom cloth available in each district, the winter temperatures of each area, the influence of ritual and custom in household life, and the leisure time available to women of various classes, so emerged the types of kantha, from the smallest arshilata (cosmetics wrapper) to the magnificent ceremonial nakshi kantha prepared for the bride and bridegroom. . Then follows its intended use, as quilt , large spread nakshi kantha, floor spread , cosmetics wrapper , wallet batwa, thoiley, cover for Quran ghilaf, floor spread , clothes wrapper , guthri, dhakni or cover, ceremonial meal spread , prayer mat jainamaz and pillow cover balisher chhapa. The kantha stitchers own dreams are patterned in the form of the sun image, of flora and fauna. Sometimes, the maker owned her work by signing her name or stitching a proverb on one side.

Metal Crafts

Metal crafting in Bangladesh is an ancient tradition with the earliest object, a punch-marked coin, having been made in the first century BC at Wari-bateswar, Narsinghdi. Based on traditional knowledge and the inherent skills of the artisans the craft attained a high standard Metals used in crafting have traditionally been copper, bronze (copper and tin alloy), brass (copper and zinc alloy), bell (tin and copper alloy) gold, silver, iron, panchaloha (literally, five metals, an alloy of copper, brass, lead, silver, gold) and ashtadhatu (alloy of silver, gold, copper, zinc, lead, tin, iron, mercury) In Bangladesh most of the commonly used household products are made from brass, bell metal or copper - Cooking pots, pitchers, plates, tumblers and bowls are made in diverse shapes and sizes. The artisans employ a number of techniques to craft the metal including among others shaping, casting- both solid and hollow, engraving, enameling and repousse work