RANGPUR, May 30: Weaving of Benarasi sarees is going on in full swing at Benarasi Palli under Gangachhara upazila in Rangpur district, as the holy Eid-ul-Fitr is knocking at the door.
Weavers of the Benarasi palli are now busy making Benarasi sarees. They are working day and night to make the item.
There are about 400 handlooms at around 130 Benarasi factories in the upazila where about 3,100 workers are busy with 'nakshi', `belbutti', 'satan', 'fulkoli', etc which have huge demand in different areas of the country.
Abdur Rahman, owner of a factory at Talukhabu village told FE the sarees which they make are sold at different rates between Tk 1,500 to Tk 20,000 according to their qualitiy and designs.
Afroza Banu, owner of another Benarasi factory said, she has nine handlooms. The demand for sarees increase a lot ahead of Eid. They are making 30 to 35 pieces of sarees a day during this peak season. These are supplied to Dhaka and other parts of the country, she also said.
A number of Benarasi workers told this correspondent that every year the demand for Benarasi sarees increase ahead of Eid. They also wait for the Eid festival to earn a major portion of their yearly income. "Every year we make sarees with new design during the peak season".
"We get Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 for making each sarees, they said. The workers said they embellish silk, georgette, tissue and other types of sarees. At least four to seven days are required to make a Benarasi saree depending on design and decoration, they added.
BSCIC Rangpur office sources said, Benarasi Palli of the upazila has already become famous across the country for its Benarasi products. The authorities have already set up some 40 cottage industries and created jobs for many poor and unemployed people in the area, sources added.
