Exhibition aims to protect tradition from extinction

A four-day fair on handloom styled 'Heritage Handloom Festival-2019' will kick off on Wednesday in the city aimed at promoting local handloom products and protecting the traditional items from extinction.
SME Foundation and Association of Fashion Designers of Bangladesh (AFDB) with the support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs will jointly organise the festival for the second time at the hall room of Khazana Gardenia at Gulshan-2.
Planning Minister M A Mannan is expected to attend the opening ceremony tomorrow as the chief guest and inaugurate the event.
The organisers made the announcement at a press conference at a city hotel on Monday. The slogan of this year's fair is 'Deshi Bhalobashi (love local products)'.
Managing Director of SME Foundation Md Shafiqul Islam and AFDB President Mantasha Ahmed were present at the press briefing and spoke, among others.
Some 45 entrepreneurs and designers will showcase their traditionally-woven and handmade clothes and exhibit items related to heritage in 45 stalls set up at the venue. The exhibits will be brought from different regions of the country.
Jute items, Jamdani sari, Khadi, Sirajganj Handloom, Rajshahi Silk, cane and bamboo, folk art, Nakshi Kantha, Mirpur Benarasi, Tangail Taant, Sirajganj Taant (Lungi, Gamchha, Saris), Rangamati Handloom and Monipuri Handloom are among the products of 15 sectors to be displayed at the fair.
Addressing the programme, Shafiqul Islam said many handmade products which are strongly related to the country's heritage and culture are on the verge of extinction.
The expo will help protect these products and encourage entrepreneurs to revive the items with seamless blend of artistic creativity from diverse cultures and traditions, he added.
AFDB President Mantasha said the fair will play a vital role in the expansion and marketing of the handicraft and handloom items in the country and abroad.
The fair will help popularise the local products which remain in the essence (of the country's) culture and heritage, she noted.
Engaging youth in the handloom industry, reviving and promoting the traditional handloom items and facilitating the weavers (of the fabric and cloths) with marketing and export opportunities are the main objectives of the fest, she added.
The exhibition will remain open for all from 5:00pm to 8:00 pm on the opening day (Wednesday) and from 10:00am to 8:00pm on October 24, 25 and 26.
Curtain will come down on the festival on Saturday (October 26).

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