Weavers and traders of Jamdani Palli in Rupganj of Narayanganj are having a busy time on the occasion of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. They expect to sell sarees worth Tk35-40 crore this Eid. Apart from sarees, the local weavers also make Panjabi for men including salwar-kameez for women.
The traditional Jamdani saree, made with delicate patterned work, is in demand not only in the country but also abroad. Keeping that demand in mind, weavers are making sarees with eye-catching designs in various colours. According to locals, the Jamdani saree originated in Noapara village of Tarab municipality in Rupganj. But now Jamdani manufacturing factories have spread to other upazilas of the district.
Dhakai Jamdani got the GI registration in 2016. The historic production of Jamdani was patronised by the imperial warrant of the Mughal emperors. The term Jamdani is Persian, derived from “Jam”, meaning flower, and “Dani”, as in vase or a container, named after decorative floral patterns found on Dhakai textile.
The Jamdani sarees are being sold from Tk2,000 to Tk200,000, depending on the design and thread count. The higher the count of the fabric, the higher the price. The weaving time depends on this thread count.
Bangla TribuneDifferent types of Jamdani sarees include Mayurpenchpar, Baghnoli, Kolmilota, Chandapar, Jhumkando, Terchha, Jolpar, Pannahazar, Korola, Dublajal, Saburga, Bolihar, Shaplaful, and Angurlota.
Meanwhile, buyers from different parts of the country, mainly Dhaka, are flocking to the Jamdani Palli for sarees.
Shanta Akhter came to buy sarees from Narsingdi. She visits this place every year before Eid. “It was not possible to buy sarees only during the Covid pandemic,” she added.
Irene Rahman came from Demra with her family members to buy sarees. “I have a kind of fascination for Jamdani sarees. Apart from that, anyone will want to buy these sarees after seeing all the eye-catching designs. I have already bought sarees for two family members. The rest of the members are looking around.”
Bayejid Hasen is an official at Rupganj's Jamdani Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (Bscic) Industrial City, where around 3,200-3,500 weavers are working in 407 factories.
“Our business has increased several times this year as the Covid pandemic has waned. The artisans are having a busy time around the upcoming Eid. Traders, hoping to make extra profit, have picked up colourful sarees in shops. This Eid, sales from this Jamdani Palli will reach about Tk35-40 crore. The yearly sale is around Tk200 crore,” he said.
Artisan Al Amin is busy with a loom machine making saree in the Jamdani village. “The fabric of the Jamdani saree is made completely by hand with cotton and silk threads. Because of this, the price of Jamdani products is higher than other clothes. The more work involved, the more expensive the fabric and the longer it takes to make. The two Eid and Puja seasons are the busiest times. I got a lot of work this time too,” he said.
Bangla TribuneAnother weaver, Abdul Quader, has received many pre-orders for making sarees this Eid season. He said: “This is the most stressful time of the year…no time to breathe. Many more saree orders are pending. They must be completed.”
The traders say they could not sell much during the first three weeks of Ramadan. They hope the sale will rise in the last week. Earlier, Jamdani business saw a slowdown due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21.
Nazrul Islam, the owner of Sohag Jamdani House, said: “Every Eid season, we sell sarees worth Tk40-50 lakh easily. However, this Eid business has not yet gathered as expected. But since Eid is still a few days away, I am expecting that sales will increase.”
His shop has sarees starting from Tk3,500 to Tk1,50,000. Three pieces are priced from Tk1,200-3,000 and Panjabi from Tk1,000.
Mentioning that there is a huge demand for the Jamdani sarees outside Bangladesh, he said: “There is a huge demand for this saree in many countries including the US, the UK, and India. Our sarees are being sold in those countries.”
Regarding the wages of the saree makers, he said: “The wages of saree makers are paid based on production rate. For example, two artisans work to make a saree worth Tk10,000. They will get Tk9,000 for this and the profit will be Tk700-1,000.”