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Pabna’s Benarasi Palli being reclaimed by nature!
AHMED HUMAYUN KABIR TOPU, Pabna
The Benarasi Palli in Pabna’s Ishwardi upazila has remained inactive since its establishment in 2004 due to a serious lack of initiative among the authorities and weavers involved.
The specialised production zone was set up by Bangladesh Tant Board on 5.5 acres of land in a bid to keep the region’s heritage of making Benarasi, Katan and other luxurious clothing items alive for the foreseeable future.
However, it has made little progress in this regard and is slowly being reclaimed by nature as most plots remain unused.
Some 90 plots were allotted to various weavers for building production units at the Ishwardi Benarasi Palli between 2004 and 2007 but only five are making use of their space as the rest lack enough funds to do so.
According to Bangladesh Tant Board, Benarasi weavers got five-decimal plots by paying Tk 4,200 as a down payment and Tk 650 as a monthly instalment for 20 years beginning in 2004.
Similarly, three-decimal plots were allotted for Tk 2,500 as down payment with Tk 390 monthly instalments for the same period.
In addition, only plot owners were allowed to establish factories in the commercial area in a bid to prevent them from subletting their allotments to other entrepreneurs.
“Only five people have paid their instalments and established factories in the last 18 years,” said Obaidur Rahman Jilani, a field supervisor of Bangladesh Tant Board and in-charge of Ishwardi Benarasi Palli.
As such, the board has decided to cancel the allotments of plots that have remained unused if the awardees fail to pay their dues and set up units by the time the project expires in 2024.
During a recent visit to the state-owned estate, this correspondent found that only two factories have been running in full swing while weeds and other plant life have covered the entire area due to a lack of maintenance.
“Bangladesh Tant Board has so far issued notices among 85 plot holders as of March this year, asking them to pay instalments and establish factories to avoid their allotments being cancelled,” Obaidur added.
On the other hand, weavers claim that they have lost interest in investing in the Benarashi Palli due to a fund crisis resulting from poor business.
“Benarasi, Katan and other luxurious saris are made by handloom, but we are struggling to survive with our inherited business due to poor sales of these costly cloths as cheaper Indian cloths rule the market,” said Jabed Benarashi, a one of the key Benarasi traders in Ishwardi upazila.
Besides, soaring raw material costs have cut the scope for making profits and so, weavers have no scope of investing more in the Benarasi Palli, he added.
Jabed’s father, Abdul Mazid Benarasi, introduced Benarashi sari manufacturing in Ishwardi in early 1950 after coming from India.
Jabed has since inherited the factory at his house, where only 5 of 14 handlooms are being operated.
“I have a plot in the Benarasi Palli, but I do not have enough funds to establish a new factory considering the current situation,” Jabed said.
Wakil Ahmed, president of the Ishwardi Poura Primary Weavers Association, said there are 196 listed weavers in the upazila that make Benarasi and Katan products.
There are more than 500 handlooms for producing such clothing items but only 200 to 250 are in use as many workers have left their inherited profession to ensure survival, he added.
Due to the lack of funds, many weavers are unable to run their looms at home, let alone go for investment in the Benarasi Palli.
“So, the government should provide financial support to help keep this heritage,” Wakil said, citing how establishing a factory, engaging manpower and paying utility bills would be a huge burden for weavers.