With Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year, approaching, shopping has already begun across the country. In Tangail, renowned for its traditional handloom sarees, weavers are working day and night to meet seasonal demand. The sarees are being produced with fresh designs and vibrant patterns to attract buyers ahead of the festive season.
Despite a decline in sales compared to previous years, traders remain optimistic and expect to sell around 150,000 sarees during the Eid and Pahela Baishakh period. As a result, the handloom villages in Tangail have returned to their usual bustling state.
On the occasions of Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh, people traditionally buy new clothes, and for women, sarees remain a popular festive choice. Among them, Tangail handloom sarees continue to hold a special place because of their heritage and quality.
To maintain this long-standing tradition, new designs and innovative patterns have been introduced this year.
Weavers are currently passing through one of their busiest times of the year. In Tangail—often referred to as the country’s handloom hub—the rhythmic sound of looms echoes across weaving villages. Both men and women are actively engaged in the weaving process, working from early morning until late at night to produce sarees for the upcoming festivities.
Various types of sarees are being produced to meet the needs of different customers. Prices range from Tk 450 to Tk 70,000, depending on the design and fabric.
Weavers say that although their workload has increased ahead of the festivals, wages remain low and overall sales have decreased.
Weaver Fazlul Haque said it takes about two days to make a single saree, for which he earns around Tk 700. “I can produce four sarees a week. With such low wages, it is difficult to support a family. Still, we continue working in this profession,” he said.
Another worker, Anik Pal, who has been weaving sarees for 55 years, said there has been little improvement in the sector. “We receive about Tk 600 for making a saree. We hope the government will provide support for workers like us,” he said.
Customer Farzana Sultana said Tangail handloom sarees are well known for their quality. “We came here to buy locally made sarees. There are many varieties available, although prices are slightly higher this year compared to previous years,” she said.
Trader Dipty said the business has been affected by the influx of Indian and Pakistani sarees. “Our wholesale sales have already been completed, but overall sales were lower than before. Still, we hope the festival season will bring better business,” she said.
Palash Chandra Basak, director of the Tangail Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the saree market has been facing challenges as many women are wearing sarees less frequently nowadays. “However, we expect sales to improve during Eid and Pahela Baishakh, with around 150,000 sarees likely to be sold. The handloom sector needs greater government support,” he said.
Raghunath Basak, president of the Tangail Saree Association, said sales are expected to be better this year due to the absence of political instability. “Sarees have been produced within the purchasing capacity of buyers. There were once about 5,000 looms in this area, but now only around 4,500 remain. Government intervention is needed to sustain this traditional industry,” he added.