Government Wants to Hand Dhakai Muslin Technology Over to Private Entrepreneurs
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam has emphasised swiftly handing over the revived muslin-making technology to private entrepreneurs in order to increase the commercial production of Dhakai muslin.
At the same time, he has assured maximum financial and ancillary support for research to develop the variety of futi karpas cotton, the raw material for making muslin.
The state minister said these things on Sunday while speaking as the special guest at a seminar on developing the variety of futi karpas cotton, the raw material for Dhakai muslin, organised by the Bangladesh Handloom Board at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
Shariful Alam said there has been encouraging progress in the ongoing research into the futi karpas cotton variety, its genetic characteristics and the quality of its fibre. The results of this research have created new possibilities for the sustainable production of muslin.
In his opinion, it is now urgent to use the progress of the research to deliver the muslin-making technology to private entrepreneurs. If it remains confined to the laboratory, the commercial potential of this traditional product cannot be utilised.
The state minister said that if skilled weavers, entrepreneurs and investors can be engaged, it will be possible to expand the commercial production of muslin. If opportunities for production, marketing and export can be created while maintaining the product's uniqueness and quality, employment will increase and foreign currency will be earned.
Regarding government support for research, he said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has discussed the progress of futi karpas and muslin research with those concerned on several occasions and given the necessary instructions. In line with the Prime Minister's instructions, maximum financial and ancillary support will be given for the research from the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.
Giving emphasis to expanding muslin's reach in domestic and foreign markets alongside preserving its heritage, the state minister said there is no alternative to research in this field. The government and the ministry will cooperate so that researchers get the necessary support and can work without hindrance.
Mentioning the role of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in the institutional development of the handloom industry, Shariful Alam said the foundation of this sector's development was laid through the establishment of the Bangladesh Handloom Board in 1977.
He also mentioned former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's plan to establish a Handloom Bank to provide financial assistance to marginal weavers.
The state minister said the government, research institutions, universities and private entrepreneurs must work in a coordinated way to carry forward futi karpas research, hand over muslin-making technology, develop weavers' skills and build an effective marketing system. He also emphasised giving due recognition to the contributions of researchers and the stakeholders concerned.
Present at the event were Sharf Uddin Ahmad Chowdhury, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute; Md. Zakir Hossain, Chairman of the Bangladesh Handloom Board; Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdelmoghny Abdelbaki, chief researcher on cotton breeding at Egypt's Cotton Research Institute; and researchers, scientists, university teachers and students, and entrepreneurs from home and abroad.
