Handicrafts in Bangladesh
Handicrafts in Bangladesh
Handicrafts and Textile Handicraft business is
related to the accumulation of handmade product from over the country and to
sell them in retail shops or to export in another countries. People have a
great hobby for this type of product because it contains flavour of culture of
Bangladesh and it has a variety of design.
The SWOT analysis of the Handicraft Product can
help us to determine the current situation of business, challenges and gaps
between demand and supply, source of raw materials and manpower, potentiality
of employment, and its prospect for future. Bangladesh is a developing and
overpopulated country; thus labour intensive technology can be more appreciable
than capital intensive technology for the industries. Application of a large
amount of low compensated workers to produce handicraft product will be
beneficial for us from dual aspects. The first one is reduction in
un-employment thus poverty alleviation and the second one is the earning of
handsome amount of foreign currency.
The importance of the Textile Handicrafts and
Handicraft sector in Bangladesh cannot be traced back to any particular point
of time. It grew gradually over centuries representing the rich, unique
traditions of the soil, its people and their own culture. The nourishing
factors that helped the sector flourish are love of the artisans for their
craft. This has definitely resulted in an integrated and structured approach
toward production and marketing and today the handicraft industry of Bangladesh
look much well organized then it was a decade back. However, there is no
denying the fact that despite considerable advancement, potential of the sector
still appear largely unexplored and a bulk of the resources untapped.
Innovative steps are needed to reach a satisfactory level. Beside the supply
side obstacles, lack of
technology and effective export marketing drive continue to be the main barrier for speedy growth of the industry.
Handicrafts are mostly defined as “items made by
hand, often with the use of simple tools, and are artistic and for traditional
in nature. They are also object of utility and object of decoration. Some
common types of handicrafts are Textile based handicrafts, Clay, Metal, Jewellers,
Woodwork, Stone Craft, Glass and Ceramic etc.
Hand printed textiles including hand knitted and
crochet, block and screen printing, batik, hand printing by pen and tie-dye are
used in products ranging from bed-covers to sheets, dress material to
upholstery and tapestry. The famous embroidered articles of silk and cotton
often embellished with mirrors, shells, beads, and metallic pieces are also
found. Embroidery is done too on leather, felt and velvet etc. almost half a
million strong employment in addition to a large number of designers, block
makers, weavers and packers involved in the trade.
Textile Handicraft
This is amongst the oldest and most
widespread form of handicrafts. Historical records of prehistoric era have been
found in the remains of pottery. It is believed to have existed since 7000 BC
in the Neolithic period.
Clay Handicrafts
Metal base handicraft in Bangladesh is another popular
item. It’s rich design and artistic
makes it very important thing to the handicraft industry.
Metal handicraft
Wood work handicrafts are now very popular all over the
world because its raw materials sources are very easy to get. Many
entrepreneurs are having good profit from this business. And demands are very
high now.
Wood work
Handicrafts
Now
women are very attracted to handmade jewellery. It becomes a tradition now to
wear handmade jewellery in Bengali festivals. And this sector of handicrafts is
growing very highly now.
Handmade
Jewellery
§ Nature
and structure of the Industry: Handicraft sector in Bangladesh is comprises
with small manufacturing units and mostly located in rural areas, operated
either by the owner themselves or with the assistance of a small work force of
10-20 people. Most enterprises use traditional techniques with or without the
use of tools or simple instruments. Total number of workforce associated with
the industry stands approximately over 3 millions of which over three quarters
are employed in textile, jute goods, wood, lather, cane and bamboo. These are
followed by metal-works and pottery. A rough estimate shows that exports occupy
about 20% of the total production. Key players in the sector involved in
domestic supplies as well as exporters are:
§ Non Government
Organization (NGO) exporters of Handicrafts. (Eg. Arong)
§ NGO supportive product
house (Non exporters)
§ Private manufacturers
/exporters. (Eg. Various jute good manufacturers)
§ Small private
manufacturers (Non exporters, eg. Naksha, Rang, Nabarupa etc.)
After 1970, Bangladesh’s handicraft product was
introduced in the market. And in 80s the product got market acceptance, and
this became its growth period. In the 90s, the handicraft products of
Bangladesh experienced a slow growth, and it is the maturity period of the
product. After 2000, the sales of product decreased because of its old design
and poor quality. Moreover, new competitors came with newly-designed,
innovative and quality product.
This chart shows Bangladesh’s handicraft product
life cycle.
1970-1976
1977-1985 1985-2000
After 2000
Organization-
|
Hathay
Bunano p.s.
|
Naksha
|
Prabartana
|
Arong
|
Prokritee
|
Type
|
NGO’s
|
Private
|
NGO’s
|
NGO’s
|
NGO’S
|
Start from
|
2005
|
1993
|
1986
|
1976
|
2001
|
Manpower
|
4000
|
500
|
5000
|
65000
|
2000
|
Product House
|
38
|
2
|
–
|
653
|
20
|
Main product
|
Kids
items (Toys, dresses)
|
All
types of textile Handicrafts
|
All
types of handicrafts
|
All
types of handicrafts
|
All
types of Handicrafts (Specially produce Handmade paper)
|
Market
|
Export
|
Local
|
99%
Local
|
96%
Local
|
99%
Export
|
Turn Over
|
–
|
7-8Mn.
Taka
|
100Mn.
Taka
|
–
|
700Mn.
Taka.
|
References
§ Mondol, Mr. Abdur
Razzak, (2003 “Export of Bangladesh handicrafts present performance and future
prospects” Souvenir, Jatio Karuponno Prodorshoni-2003.
§ Shah Jalal, Md. “Concept
Note on Development of Handicraft manufactured by the Small and Medium
Enterprises of Bangladesh seeking Switch Asia 2008 Project, help of European
Commission in promoting Sustainable consumption and Production in Bangladesh.”
Report produced for BANGLACRAFT (Bangladesh Handicraft Manufacturers and
Exporters Association.)
§ Morshed, Samantha,
(2009) “Textile handicrafts need boost” article published in newspaper,
‘The daily Star’, Tuesday, March 03
§ Morshed, Samantha,
(2009) “Taking Jobs to Bangladesh’s poor”, BBC News, Thursday, April-30
§ Rahman, Dr Engr Md
Saifur, “Writing A Scientific Paper”.
§ Arefeen, Prof. H.K.S.,
Salam, Shah Abdus, Sultana, Sayeeda, (2007) “Handicraft Market Chain in
Bangladesh”, Chapter-02, “Bangladesh Handicraft Product Life Cycle”, page-26,
Published by ECOTA Fair Trade Limited, Dhaka.
§ Statistical Report,
(2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007), Export promotion Bureau, Bangladesh.
www.ecotaftf.org
www.rang-bd.com
www.prokritee.com
www.prabartana.org
http://mdshossain.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/swot-analysis-of-aarong/
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/indian-handicrafts-industry-swot-analysis-327228.html
http://www.brac-aarong.com/
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