RAJSHAHI, -A month-long handicrafts and cottage goods fair began here on Wednesday with the main thrust of expansion and popularization of the goods.
A spectrum of locally produced handicrafts goods including leather products, jute-made products, processed agricultural products, electrical and electronic goods, clothes, design and fashion wares and other products are being displayed in the fair through 40 stalls.
Local unit of Bangladesh Women Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (WEAB) organized the event titled “Winter cloth, Handicrafts and Cottage Industries Product Fair-2019” at Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Green Plaza.
Deputy Commissioner Hamidul Haque accompanied by President of Bangladesh Silk Industries Owners Association Liakat Ali, President of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries Md Moniruzzaman and WEAB local unit president Anjuman Ara inaugurated the fair and addressed its launching ceremony yesterday.
The speakers said handicrafts signify the true craftsmanship of the Bangladeshi artisans.
Various artisan communities are scattered throughout the country, communities consisting of people who solely depend on their crafts as a primary source of income.
Hamidul Haque underscored the need for more hosting of such type of fair to protect the handicrafts goods from further diminishing.
He said more expansion of investment to the sector is needed for bolstering economic condition of both urban and rural areas together with freeing the society from the vicious circle of poverty.
As the handicrafts sector is labour-intensive so that its successful promotion could be an effective means of boosting women entrepreneurship, alleviating poverty, generating employment opportunities.
Explaining various aspects of handicrafts and cottage industries towards the region’s economic development Liakat Ali said the government should undertake need-based initiatives including time-fitting training and information technology for handicrafts development.
Anjuman Ara told the meeting that the fair has been organized in order to increase the visibility of handicrafts through preserving and encouraging the practice of local artisans.
