Development of handicraft production in Bangladesh

Timon Saha :
The general view of the market of novel handicrafts has been changing vigorously during the last three decades. During the seventies the novel handicrafts market had a strong revival during that period, people were closely involved by events taking place somewhere else in the world. The slogan in Bangladesh, ‘small is beautiful’ was ‘in’
during the seventies, even so along with the interest in other cultures. It was therefore important to know the country of origin. There was a demand for natural materials, in earthen colours and it was fashionable to fill the house with ornamental things.
However, due to the great demand for handicrafts the quality of the products got worse day by day. The products started to look cheap so that people lost their interest in these articles. Handicrafts were looked upon as ‘shoddy -goods.’
In the eighties, a large curtailment of the market took place due to the decreasing growth of the economy. There was a change in the age of consumer. The old people had already filled their place up with handicrafts while the young ones required new exciting things matching their life styles. They did not care about the materials used, whether the products were handmade or not, or of any information regarding the country of origin. The crafts only had to suit their taste. This individualising of the society and the liability of the producers in the developing countries to adapt themselves to this change of conduct among the consumers, brought about a very difficult time in the current past for a lot of handicrafts producers
in Bangladesh.
Fair Trade and NGOs:
Fair trade is an organized social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainability. Members of the movement advocate the payment of higher prices to exporters, as well as higher social and environmental standards. The 10 goals of fair trade
movement are as follows:
(i) Creating opportunities for
economically disadvantaged producers;
(ii) Fair trading practices;
(iii) Payment of a fair price;
(iv) Transparency and accountability;
(v) Ensuring no child labour and forced labour;
(vi) Commitment to non discrimination, gender equity and women’s economic empowerment and freedom of association.
(vii) Ensuring good working conditions;
(viii) Providing capacity building;
(ix) Promoting fair trade;
(x) Respect for the environment.
Working in hand with the Fair trade Movement, the NGO’s in Bangladesh with the aim of creating jobs and employment for the poor and marginal people specialised in handicrafts production, using locally
available environment friendly resources. The purpose is to improve socio-economic condition of the producers/artisans and their associated communities. Many NGOs provides training and education to improve producers’ skill on products and market.
The activities of NGOs are operated as a sustainable self-financed project. Presently Many NGOs works on various handicrafts products. Over the last 30 years many new items have been added to the product range with the purpose to help more handcrafted producers. The main purpose are as follows: Hand-loom Products, Leather Products, Clay Products, Straw Art Products, Hand Made Paper Products, Wooden Products, Bamboo Products, Recycled Materials Products, Date-Leaf Products, Palm-Leaf Products, Hogla-Leaf Products, Jute Products, Recycled Glass, Ceramic, Cane Products, Embroidery Item, Palm Fibre Products,
Tin Sheet Products & Christmas
decoration Products etc.
Moreover, The Handicrafts manufacturers and exporters had formed a national
association in 1979 under the name and style of Bangladesh Handicrafts
Manufacturers Exporters Association.
In short ‘Banglacraft.’ The Association was mainly formed with the Manufacturers, Exporters Traders, Producers, Designers, Promoters and Suppliers of handicrafts items throughout the country. Accordingly the Association was registered with the Joint Stock Company and the Ministry of Commerce, Government of the Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh. Banglacraft also became an ‘A’ class member and became affiliated with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI).
Besides, from the beginning to till date Government played a vital role in the development sector of Bangladesh. A number of artisan and producer directly benefited from this sector by assisting in local and abroad marketing. Availability of resources and skill artisans are indirectly ensuring their contribution in the national economy. In the long journey these disadvantaged people are the net asset of Bangladesh Handicrafts sector.
There is one trend, which dominates the market everywhere. Simply said this is “back to nature and back to naturalness and back to realness”. This trend is strongly mixed with a nostalgia trend. A strong need for the perfect product exists everywhere and happens to be vividly present. But as far as material, manufacturing method, packaging and other issues are concerned; it is the high quality, which matters and counts for generating interest in crafts.
Raw materials available in a lot of developing countries and labour costs are extremely low in comparison to western countries, which are certainly good starting points for a success in the international market. It is clear that only those complying with most of the conditions and requirements will be in a position to make the optimum use of what the market has to offer now and
will offer in the future.
From the late eighties till today at the very moment – the initiation of the twenty-first century, although the individualising of the society is still increasing, we however, do see good possibilities for the building up of a new market for the handicrafts in most EEC countries as also in other parts of the world.
But due to Slowdown in Global Market opened a new opportunity for Bangladesh handicrafts at locally. The Bangladesh
handicrafts sector is looking inward.
The fear of a sluggish global demand in coming days has prompted handicrafts
producers to find innovative ways to increase volume in domestic markets.
The industry, which employs many people directly, and indirectly, has now begun to focus on Bangladesh market as exports of handicrafts during the last two decades have been growing. Bangladesh used to export many handlooms items to USA and Europe but considering the power loom and global market condition this industry is under threat. Handloom products are now getting in the domestic market through chain store like Aarong, Ottobi, Shopa. There are lots of country’s handicrafts items that are
becoming popular in the local domestic market. Many of the natural baskets made from palm leaf, date leaf and hogla leaf are now very popular in making furniture and household goods. The government too is now encouraging artisans to create products, which are suitable to Bangladesh markets and help them improve their marketing
ability. After all, the slowdown in Western markets may trigger panic button anytime soon. We should focus on developing
products that could of good taste for Bangladesh markets. The exports of
handicrafts must continue, but the time has come we need to focus on the vast untapped Bangladesh handicrafts market. n