A story of tradition and livelihoods
A promising towel industry has developed in Baranagar village of Kaliganj Municipality in Gazipur, providing livelihoods for many families and contributing to the local economy.
For years, households and small factories in the area have been producing various types of towels using handlooms and machines.
Towels are widely used in homes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and other institutions.
With population growth, changing lifestyles and the expansion of the hotel, restaurant and tourism sectors, demand for towels has increased. Locally produced towels are meeting part of the domestic demand, while entrepreneurs see opportunities to expand into export markets.
However, rising raw material and production costs, power shortages and marketing difficulties have emerged as major challenges for the industry, discouraging many entrepreneurs from expanding their businesses.
Cotton and yarn are the main raw materials used to make towels. Producers use different types of yarn on specialised looms and modern machines to manufacture a range of products, including regular towels, hand towels, bath towels and face towels.
Small, medium and large factories producing these items are located in several areas of Kaliganj Municipality, including Baranagar, Bhadgati, Khanjana, Uttar Gaon, Balingaon, Bahadurshadi and Dhulasadhukha.
During a recent visit, the clattering of looms could be heard in several factories, while workers elsewhere were busy cutting, stitching and packaging finished towels.
Many local men and women, alongside family members of factory owners, are engaged in different stages of production.
The industry has also created an economic network involving yarn suppliers, workers, transporters and traders. As a result, many people are indirectly dependent on towel production for their livelihoods.
Md Ashraf Ali, owner of a towel factory in Baranagar, said the industry could expand rapidly if the government reduced raw material costs, ensured uninterrupted electricity supplies and provided support, easy-term loans and modern technology.
“Factory owners are struggling because of the lack of loans on easy terms. Several challenges are making it difficult to sustain the industry,” he said.
Workers are also concerned about the future of the sector. Md Jahangir Hossain, who is involved in towel production, said many low-income workers depend on the industry to support their families.
“The future of the towel industry has become uncertain because of low wages, rising raw material prices and the failure to get fair prices for finished products,” he said.
Artisan Md Rashed said the production process begins with collecting yarn, which is then used to make towels according to specific designs and sizes on looms or machines.
The towels are subsequently washed, dried, cut and finished before being sent to the market. Besides ordinary towels, producers manufacture products in different sizes and designs to meet varying customer demands.
People involved in the handloom sector believe the towel industry has considerable potential as a small and medium-sized industry.
They said the sector is not merely a business but also a source of livelihood for many families in the area.
They urged the government and private organisations to provide training, easy-term loans, modern technology and marketing support to help the industry overcome its challenges.
With proper support and investment, they said, the towel industry in Baranagar could expand beyond local markets, create more employment and contribute further to the country’s textile economy.
