The trade of famous Tangail shawl has experienced a decrease this year as the country is yet to see cold wave despite passing the peak period of winter. Data available in the met offices shows that winter this year has been warmer and less foggy than last year.
Generally the demand of winter clothes like shawl sees gradual increase on the eve of cold wave. The traditional value of the stuff is the key element behind its popularity.
The weavers in the Tangail region make different sorts of shawl particularly during the winter season. They are Manipuri, Mala, Nayontara, Jacket Cup and Makhmal.
The producers sell those at best Tk700 from Tk220 per piece as per the quality.
The sector’s entrepreneur named Md Jahid Hossain, from Bathuli Sadi village, said: “The demand of shawl is very low this year because of still prevailing comparatively high temperature across the country during the winter as a result of climate change. The market price of our products has become halved in absence of the demand.”
Jahid urged upon the government to create its market in abroad for the sake of the sector, telling that there are 150 weavers with about 1,000 looms and about 3,000 people depend on those for their livelihood.
A worker namely Aminul said: “Since whole year we make shawl, our activities increase on the eve of winter season. This year’s scenario is totally different as we cannot sell our products daily as expected owing t o warm winter this year.”
