Nahid for encouraging Jamdani weavers\\\' children to follow suit

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Sunday stressed the need for encouraging the children of Jamdani weavers through proper training to get them involved in weaving the historical saree to protect it from disappearance, reports UNB.
"We must consider seriously how the children of Jamdani weavers could be trained in educational institutions and how they could be prepared to weave Jamdani keeping pace with the modern era," he told a seminar.
Jamdani, one of the finest Muslin textiles, has been loved by Bengali women for centuries, and it historically belongs to Dhaka.
The seminar, titled 'Protection of Jamdani through its Multiple Uses and Safeguarding the Rights of the Artists and the Community', was held at the Banbeis Bhaban in the capital.
The seminar was organised as part of a project titled, 'Safeguarding Jamdani-the Intangible Cultural Heritage from Bangladesh and Promoting Creative Economy' jointly implemented by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sports and Tourism, Korea, Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco and Korean National Commission for Unesco.
Speaking as the chief guest, Nahid said the Jamdani weavers have been producing the finest fabric from generation to generation, but their children now are not showing their interest to become a Jamdani weaver as they do not get fair salary or price of their products.
He said nearly cent per cent of children get enrolled in the country's primary schools and about 53 per cent in secondary level due to the government's steps and the guardians' awareness about education.
"We're facing a challenge in protecting Jamdani for lack of its weavers. We must encourage the educated children of the Jamani weavers to get involved in weaving the traditional fabric, and they can feel pound of it," Mr  Nahid said.
He said if the authorities concerned cannot protect the country's Jamdani weavers, the glorious fabric of the land will be lost one day like the previous one, the Muslin.
Education secretary Dr Muhammad Sadique, Cultural Affairs secretary Dr Ranjit Kumar Biswas, Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco secretary Monjur Hossain and eminent fashion designer Bibi Russell, among others, spoke at the seminar.