Demand for Gangachhara Benarashi growing for its quality, intricate designs

RANGPUR, Apr 7: The demand for Benarasi sarees manufactured at Benarashi Palli in Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district is growing day by day due to its high quality, intricate designs and extraordinary beauty. A good number of people have changed their lot by weaving Benarasi sarees.
Weaving of Benarasi sarees has become a blessing for the poor of the area as it provided them a way to earn their living. Presently several hundreds of poor people in Gangachara upazila are engaged in Benarasi weaving.
Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) undertook a project to vitalise the industry in the upazila which started in 2009 and continued till 2013, BSCIC sources said. A total 40 cottage industries have been set up so far which created job opportunities for the poor people of the area, said Altaf Hossain project director of BSCIC Rangpur and Rajshahi region.
Weavers Abdur Rahman, Rahman Miah, Alamin and Sadrul told The Financial Express that they had to struggle a lot to run their industries due to many problems including lack of raw materials and marketing facilities. But now they have become self reliant as they have been receiving necessary help and training from BSCIC, they said.
Farida Rahman, owner of Fiyaz Benarasi Factory at Habu Tantipara village under the upazila told FE that she has 35 handlooms. The sarees which they make are sold at different rates between Tk 1,400 to Tk 15,000 according to their qualities.  
The creative weavers introduce something new and come up with fashionable varieties of sarees on the eve of various festivals, she also said. They weave yarn and turn them into different qualities and kinds including 'Nakshi', 'Belbuti' 'Katan' 'Fulkoli' etc which have high demands in different areas of the country, Farida added.
"We get Tk 600 to Tk 800 for making each sarees. At least 4 to 6 days are required to make a saree depending on design and quality", some weavers of Benarasi Palli told the FE. "Earlier we passed days in near starvation but now we have changed our financial condition by weaving Benarasi saree as it has huge demand in the market", they added.
The Benarasi sarees have gained much popularity due to the creativity of the local weavers. Benarasi village has already become widely known in the country for its products.
The weavers of the other part of the country tried to emulate the design of Benarasi saree but could not match the qualities, sources said.