Speakers at a programme on Thursday afternoon said product diversification, tax rates reduction and changed mindset of people is required to revive handloom sector of the country.
They also said a direct connection among the customers and weavers, avoiding middleman, can help ensuring fair prices of handloom fabrics.
The observations came at the inauguration of the 'Heritage Handloom Festival-2018' at Khazana Gardenia Grand Hall at Gulshan-2 in the capital.
SME Foundation and Association of Fashion Designers of Bangladesh (AFDB) jointly organised the event.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith was present as the chief guest and spoke.
Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor and Managing Director of SME Foundation Md Shafiqul Islam also attended the programme, chaired by AFDB President Mantasha Ahmed.
Addressing the event, Muhith said: "The handloom sector couldn't thrive to expected level though several initiatives were taken by the government as well as private sector for advancement of handicraft."
He also said, "Apart from scrutinising existing tax rates on handloom products, special concentration should also be given on other raw materials used in the sector like colour, silk yarn, etc."
Besides, product diversification is needed to attract more local customers, explore new overseas markets for the handmade items and increase export, he added.
Referring to handmade product prices in Bangladesh, Asaduzzaman Noor said probably there is no country in the world where handmade items are sold at such a low price.
Handloom artists weave Khadi, Jamdani and other fabrics using their indigenous skills, imaginations and techniques which should get proper appreciation, he said.
Giving an example, Noor said, "It costs around Tk 0.1 million to 1.0 million to buy a quality and exotic Kashmiri Shal in India while our weavers' get only a few thousand taka for their amazing work."
A change in the people's mindset is required to ensure fair prices of handmade products which are strongly related to the country's heritage, he said.
The minister also said the government should provide incentive to the entrepreneurs and weavers of handloom products like that in the ready-made garments (RMG) sector to strengthen local economy and exploring the potential of such products in international market.
On behalf of the weavers, Bangladesh Weavers Product Manufacturer and Business Association President Neelkomol Basak said that handloom product manufacturers have to pay a total of 67 per cent tax on yarn import from China.
Besides, weavers of the country are dependent on third party to import the essential raw materials, he noted.
The government should slash existing tax rate and allow weavers to import raw materials directly from the source country for overall development of the handloom sector, he added.
Mantasha Ahmed said AFBD in collaboration with the weavers' association will come up with an e-commerce site soon with a view to bringing the customers and weavers in a single online platform.
Around 40 organisations are participating in the three-day festival showcasing seven types of handloom products - Jamdani, Nakshikantha, Mirpur Benarasi, Tangail handloom, Sirajganj handloom, Monipuri handloom and Rangamati handloom.
The event will continue till October 6 from 10am to 10pm every day and will remain open for all.
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