Save traders of handloom saris

Traders of traditional handloom saris in Tangail district are concerned by the lack of demand for their product. According to a trader quoted by this newspaper, sale before Eid this time came down to two-thirds of what it previously was, on top of the gradual decline in sales that happened in the last few years. Meanwhile, thousands of handlooms have already been forced to shut down in the last few years because of abnormal price hike of raw materials and increasing costs of labour, electricity and transport. Now, with the added factor of declining sales, traders in the market fear that they too might be forced to go out of business.

This decline in sales has mainly been caused by the availability of cheap low-quality Indian saris at local markets that are often smuggled into the country and the saris that are mass produced in power looms, traders said. Additionally, local weavers have also been struggling to cope with the increased prices of yarn and dye, hampering businesses even more.

All things considered, traders say that the traditional industry is now going through a phase of existential crisis. Thus, they have been left with no other option but to call on the government to provide easy-term loan facilities for weavers and to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply during the peak season.

In order to save this traditional handloom industry which is a part of our heritage and that employs thousands of people, we too join their call for the government to provide them with the necessary support and protection from unfair competition.