Bamboo and cane-made handicrafts are becoming popular again among the commoners as yield thrives bringing fortune for hundreds of the unemployed rural people of the Narsingdi.
Once Narsingdi district was a rich heritage of traditional handicrafts. A good number of skilled craftsmen inherited from their forefathers in the district have given a special dimension to their products.
But due to available of attractive design plastic products in the markets, the demand for bamboo and cane-made handicrafts decreased. Currently, it is garnering popularity among the common people.
Understanding about harmful impacts of using synthetic goods, common people are now showing more interest in using bamboo and cane-made handicrafts instead of synthetic goods and private sector entrepreneurs have been producing the demandable and popularizing items.
Craftsman mainly live in the village producing various handicrafts by using bamboo and cane and they are becoming self-reliant by adopting the profession.
A number of unemployed young girls, distressed women and divorces have also engaged themselves with the profession and proved that handicrafts are a very lucrative profession in combating poverty and achieving economic well-being in rural areas.
Entrepreneurs Safaly,40, and her 18 years daughter Parul Begum of Patoli union of Belabo upazilas have set an example in reviving the lost aristocracy by producing various bamboo and cane-made charming handicrafts including beds, fruits trays, baskets, vases, stools, ashtray and flutes.
Like Safaly, housewife Habiba, Fetama Bina Rani, widow Kohinur, Rajia, Sofia and Young girl Hosna and Minoti Das of Shibpur upazila narrated their stories of achieving self-reliance by producing handicrafts in recent times.
