Remote village thriving on handicraft export

Haziganj village is becoming a hub for handmade products crafted from recycled materials as a few factories in the remote area of Gorgram union under Nilphamari sadar upazila are enjoying success in this regard.

These factories are not only helping upgrade the region's socioeconomic status, but also bringing in tidy sums of foreign currency each year.

Md Tauhid Bin Abdus Salam, who graduated from the BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology in 2004, was the man who kicked off this transformation.

Having established his factory in the village soon after graduation, Salam now earns more than Tk 100 crore annually by exporting his products to about 34 countries, including the US.

"I conceived the idea with the intention of providing a better living for the locals. Besides, the area is rich in raw materials," he said.

Salam established Classical Handmade Products BD Limited in 2008 using his small savings and some money from his father.

During a recent visit to the factory, this correspondent found female workers manually separating fibres from banana leaves, date leaves, corn husks and water hyacinths, which are then mixed with cotton to produce a special thread for making products.

Asaduzzaman, assistant general manager of the factory, said they make 283 products such as floor mats, baskets, carpets, lamps, apparel items, and more.

He also informed that they use materials such as jute, garments waste, plastic bottles and so on.

Just two months after setting up the factory, Salam participated in an exhibition in Germany, where he showcased floor mats made from garment waste.

After the exhibition, German company Kik Textilien placed a work order for 1 lakh floor mats, marking the beginning of the company's exports.

To meet the buyers' growing demand for his goods, Salam started training thousands of locals on how to produce them at home.

"Buyers from Europe and the US, K-Mart of Australia, Sweden's Zara, and Walmart purchase our products as home decorating items.as those are eco-friendly and cost effective," Salam said.

"Last year, we exported handmade goods worth $1.11 crore, or Tk 122.35 crore. The amount will likely increase this year," he added.

Salam went on to establish three more units in different areas of the region, employing around 5,000 workers, of which 86 percent are female.

"We enjoy foreigners' confidence as we maintain a healthy atmosphere in the factory while also ensuring product quality and timely delivery," he said.

Mahbub Jorge, chairman of Gorgram union, said that a good network of backward linkage factories have also developed in surrounding villages over the years as many locals started earning by supplying raw materials.

Also, logistics companies are being developed in the area to carry the raw materials and finished goods while facilitating the movement of workers as well, he added.

Female workers of the factory expressed satisfaction with their profession, saying that their contributions are recognised and respected.

"I now help provide for my children's education, healthcare and future," said Dolly Rani, a worker at the factory.

For promoting exports, the company has been honoured with 17 awards, including the President's Industrial Award, Bangabandhu Industrial Award, SME Award, HSBC Export Excellence Award, Diversified Jute Goods Producer award and so on.

Salam aspires to expand the business further by establishing a strong presence in the European market. He is also thinking about exporting processed raw materials to Sri Lanka as a minister from the country recently visited his factory and discussed the issue.

"We diversified the country's export items and play a role in reducing carbon emissions, protecting the environment in the process," he said.

But like any business, Salam's company was also affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, when he incurred losses of Tk 8 crore, while the ongoing inflationary pressure is making it difficult to hire skilled workers at the prevailing wage.

He also informed that he intended to set up a solar power system for the factory, but the initiative has stalled as the current foreign currency crisis makes it hard to import machinery.

Anwarul Islam, secretary of the Sushasoner Jonno Nagorik unit in Nilphamari, said the company's dedicated efforts are a vivid example of women empowerment.

"It also proves that positive change is not just a distant dream, but a tangible reality when compassion and dedication lead the way," he added.

Following the success of Classical Handmade Products, small-and-medium entrepreneurs are increasingly coming forward to invest in the sector and set up more factories.

These factories are Artisan House BD Limited, Suntrade Limited, and Prokiti.

Hamidul Huque, project manager of Artisan House, said they set up the factory in 2016 and 300 workers are now employed, achieving notable success so far.

The factory is situated in Kirtoniapara village under Gorgram union.

He also said they mostly produce door mats, place mats, different kinds of bags, rugs and many other things to export mainly to European countries and their activities are increasing day by day.

"This place is very congenial for running a handmade products factory. Local workers, who are mainly female, have good expertise and dedication to their work," he added.

Another export-oriented handmade products factory, called Suntrade Limited, is situated in the same village.

Mohsin Ali, in-charge of the factory, said they are constructing new buildings to expand production and employ more workers.

Having began operations in 2014, the company is set to soon participate in a trade fair in China.

Yesmin Akhtar, a worker of Artisan House, said he bought land and built a house made of brick and tin from her wages alone.