Month-long Handloom and Cottage fair begins in Rajshahi

Business Desk :

A month-long handloom, textile, and cottage industries fair opened in Rajshahi on Thursday, showcasing the talents of women entrepreneurs across the region.

Organised by the Women Entrepreneurs’ Association of Bangladesh (WEAB), Rajshahi chapter, the fair is being held on the northern side of the Rajshahi Central Botanical Garden and Zoo to mark the organisation’s 22nd founding anniversary.

The fair features 45 stalls, all run by women entrepreneurs, displaying a variety of products including Sirajganj handloom textiles, garments, cane and bamboo items, crockery, food products, and gift articles.

Speaking at the event, Bangladesh Silk Industries Owners Association President Liaquat Ali highlighted the importance of handloom and cottage industries as key drivers of rural and semi-urban livelihoods. Industrialist Hassen Ali added that thousands of artisan households across the country rely on traditional crafts as their main source of income.

Emphasising women’s economic participation, WEAB Rajshahi chapter President Anzuman Ara Parvin Lipi said, “Women entrepreneurs involved in handloom and cottage industries are not only contributing to household incomes but also strengthening local economies and promoting inclusive growth.”

The inaugural ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Zia Uddin Ahmed, former director of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Zamat Khan, general secretary of Rajshahi Raksha Sangram Parishad; Mariyam Begum, president of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Rajshahi); and Fatema Akter, general secretary of WEAB Rajshahi chapter.
The fair aims to provide a platform for women entrepreneurs to expand their market reach, promote traditional crafts, and raise awareness about the economic contributions of handloom and cottage industries.