The Heritage Handloom Festival, a month-long festival of weaving products, has started with the slogan 'My product is my country, Digital Bangladesh'.
The SME Foundation and the Association of Fashion Designers Bangladesh (AFDB) are organizing for the third time in a row to connect the glorious heritage and culture of Bangladesh with the leading weavers of traditional weaving products, to prevent extinction and above all to create employment in the country. However, considering the situation of Covid-19, this time Heritage Handloom Festival 2020 has been organized online.
The festival was inaugurated on Wednesday (October 28) at 5 pm on the online platform 'Zoom'. By Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni MP.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam MP and Industries Secretary KM Ali Azam were special guests on the occasion. SME Foundation Chairperson Prof. Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman presided over the function.
Welcoming remarks were made by Md. Shafiqul Islam, Managing Director of SME Foundation and Mantasha Ahmed; President of Association of Fashion Designers Bangladesh (AFDB) highlighting various aspects of the festival.
Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni MP said 90 percent is small and medium industries in the country. Its importance in economic development and poverty alleviation is immense. The importance of the SME sector in achieving the development targets of the government is undeniable. Weaving is one of the most promising industries in Bangladesh. The weavers are also exporting clothes after meeting the local demand of the people. Organizing the Heritage Handloom Festival with the participation of various product-based associations and entrepreneurs proves that they still have a connection with the roots of the Bengali tradition. In 2016, Jamdani of Bangladesh was recognized as a GI product, so that she has his own contribution, the Minister of Education also mentioned. The government has taken various initiatives including socio-economic and skill development of weavers, introduction of closed loom mills.
Speaking as the special guest, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh's traditional products are valued and have demand all over the world. Mentioning the pride of weavers, he said the government has taken initiative to add traditional weaving products to the list of GI products. He called upon all to help the government by identifying the traditional and promising products of the country.
Speaking as the special guest, Industries Secretary KM Ali Azam said such initiatives of using the product will play a helpful role in increasing and preventing extinction. The government has taken various steps including the establishment of a university to prevent the extinction of the weaving industry. If weavers are trained with appropriate technology, they will be able to create sustainable products. Initiatives will be taken to add traditional products to the list of GI products.
SME Foundation Chairperson Prof. Dr. Md. Masudur Rahman said, it has been possible to organize this fair online in the context of Covid-19 due to the welfare of digital infrastructure created by the government. Small and medium enterprises are playing an important role in achieving the government's development goals of 2021 and 2041. The SME Foundation is working to address the skills development, product marketing and financing issues of SME entrepreneurs. Despite Covid-19, Bangladesh has taken place in the list of five leading countries in the world.
The main objectives of organizing this festival are-
A. Demonstrating the use of traditional weaving products in daily life as part of the glorious heritage and culture of Bengal. B. To create employment through promotion, dissemination and marketing of traditional weaving products. C. Connecting between weaving manufacturers and top designers. D. Connecting local weaving manufacturers with local and international markets and E. To prevent the extinction of traditional Bengali products.
The online page of the fair will display weaving, live fashion show as well as about 60 online stalls for buyers and visitors. Handicraft products, such as jute products, bamboo and cane made products. There will be documentaries on the history of sector-based products, giving buyers ideas about the products, online seminars and other events. Entrepreneurs of traditional products including various associations, designers, artists, weavers will participate in the festival. The festival will feature music performances by folk artists, fashion shows, quizzes and photo contests on local costumes, seminars, buyer-seller matchmaking events.
It may be mentioned that Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, MP will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on the online platform on Thursday at 12 noon. State Minister for Culture KM Khalid MP, Textile and Jute Secretary Lokman Hossain Mia will be the special guests.
A seminar on 'Technology for Preserving Heritage: Skills Enhancement and E-Commerce for Cottage Industry' will be held online on October 30, 2020 at 5 pm, with Saida Muna Tasnim, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to the United Kingdom as the guest.