SIRAJGANJ, Aug 7 : Handloom Industry of SlrajganJ district has been facing closure due to manifold problems including abnormal price hike of cotton yarn, dyes, chemicals and fall in demand of handloom products. Meanwhile. 70 per cent of handloom factories now remain closed throwing a large number of weavers unemployed.

Natural calamities during the last few years damaged a large number of handloom factories.

According to a survey, there arc 77,000 handlooms tn Shahzadpur Upazlla. 15.000 In Ullapara upazlla and 50.000 tn Belkuchi Upazlla. More than 80 lakh people are either directly or indirectly dependent on this sector.

The government, however, extended loan facilities In 1984 to gear up this sector. Taka 5500 loan was paid for each semi-automatic loom and Taka 3500 for country loom while scheduled banks disbursed loans among the weavers on passbooks, issued by the Bangladesh Handloom Board.

It is alleged that a substantial amount of loan went to the pockets of fake weavers who utilised forged passbooks.

On Information the government stopped the disbursement of loan subject to Issuance of new passbooks. But since then the loan dlstribu tion scheme remained stopped. Under the loan distribution scheme. Sonali Bank

at Belkuchl disbursed Taka 84 lakhs among 240 weavers. Krtshl Bank — Taka 78 lakhs among 240 weavers and Agrani Bank — Taka 78 lakhs among 250 weavers. Repayment of loan was too -poor. Alone in Shahzadpur upazila. Taka 10 crores remain unrealised.

A handloom factory owner told this correspondent that prices of cotton yam, dyes and chemicals have been increased abnormally and demand for handloom products have declined threatening the existence of this prospective cottage industry.

Virus fever

Virus fever is spreading alarmingly in SirajganJ weakening the immune system of the body.

Three to four members of each family have been attacked by this virus. The affected patients suffer from fever normally for one to two weeks with severe body pains, headache, sneezing, sore throat, cough and sore eyes.

Nasal secretions are found to be helping agents for spreading of the virus. No cure has been found as yet. To prevent the common ailments, doctors prescribed chicken soup with a few boiled vegetables and fruit juices to help built resistance to the disease.

Doctors further advised that patients should stay in a room with uniform temperature and humidity. A hot water bath with two to three times daily salt water gargles are the helping remedies.