Shital Pati, a kind of cooling floor mat made from a Murta tree (green cane), has transformed the lives of thousands of families in Bakerganj Upazila of Barishal.
Bakerganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Saifur Rahman said the upazila administration, along with JICA, continues to provide various types of training to the weavers in the upazila.
“As a result, it is now possible to produce Shital Pati in various new designs. Alongside, we are trying to provide them with several types of government assistance,” he added.
When this correspondent visited several areas of the upazila, he found that women, men, and children were busy weaving mats of various colours under the roofs of small and half-built houses alongside the rural roads at Katalkathi, Rajapur, Sukhi Neelganj and Helancha villages.
The people of the upazila have been engaged in this sector for centuries, said local sources.
Weavers from several villages of this upazila are renowned for their expertise in weaving the mat.
Upon entering the Kathalkathi village in Rangasree Union, one can see the groves of Murta trees. Along both sides of the rural roads, large trees are a common sight. Murta trees grow everywhere in houses, abandoned agricultural lands, and banks of water bodies. Using the leaves of these trees, weavers create Shital Pati, which serves as a symbol of rural heritage.
Sources said that the cultivation of the Murta tree is also a tradition in these villages for centuries. The ancestors of the patikars (pati-makers) were engaged in this profession, and even today, their main occupation is weaving Shital Pati. Hence, all these villages in the upazila are known as ‘Patikar’ villages.
Patikar Piolal Sarker from Kathalia village said it takes several days for five family members to weave one pati. They earn a daily wage of only Tk 100 per person. Yet, they continue this profession, following the footsteps of their ancestors.
“However, the increasing heat is making it difficult to supply patis as there are several fairs ongoing now. Traders come to our area to buy pati and sell them at the fairs arranged in various parts of the country,” he added.
Local pati-makers said, “Our handmade Shital Pati is of international quality. However, due to plastic mats, the demand for our handmade pati has decreased in the market. Therefore, if the government arranges for the export of Shital Pati abroad, the lives of the patikars would be better.”
Alongside, they also mention the need for small loans from the government to preserve Shital Pati. Otherwise, it is impossible to sustain in this profession.
