Silk Industry demands Govt assistance for revival

12 May '08

2 min read

In a meeting held recently, silk traders, laborers and development workers demanded for an inclusion of special allocation for the industry in the next national budget.

Government assistance was also sought for the development of silk industry which presently facing challenging times.

This meeting was jointly organized by Reshom Shilpa Sartho Sangrakkhan Committee and Varendra Unnayan Prochesta. While the former is a body set up to protect the silk industry, the latter is an NGO working for social welfare.

Manjur Faruk Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh Silk Industry Owners' Samity (BSIOS), Liaqat Ali, former President of the association, Convener Zamat Khan from Rajshahi Rakkha Sangram Parishad (a body to uphold the development of Rajshahi) and marginal farmers took their turns to speak at the meeting.

According to Mr Manjur Faruk, the local silk industry could successfully compete in the international market if growers were provided with proper channel and technological support by the Government.

Besides, the industry will also be able to have access to world market like China if the Government sponsors the silk farmers.

Presently, the industry produces around 50 tons of silk yarn against the domestic demand for 350 tons which depicts the piteous state of the country's demand and supply chain.

According to some of the farmers, the Bangladesh Sericulture Board has not been doing enough to attract farmers in silk cultivation. Besides, people engaged in the industry are facing the problem of inadequate bank loans.

In fact, the Bangladesh Sericulture Board has also been accused of not delivering timely payment to the farmers.

All in all, the industry is in a miserable plight and concrete steps needs be taken by the Government to revive and expand this extremely significant and potential sector of the country.

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