Wooden dolls painted in a crimson-red or saffron-yellow sari with a black hair bun are a traditional craft of Bangladesh and an integral part of every rural fair.

The government yesterday declared handicrafts as the product of the year 2024 to highlight the role of women in the making of handicrafts, promote exports, and diversify the nation’s export basket, which is currently dominated by the garments sector, according to a notification by the commerce ministry.