Radhavati made a saree from the fiber of the banana tree

For the first time, weaving artist Radhavati of Moulvibazar made a saree from the fibers of the banana tree and put it on the shelves. Deputy Commissioner of Bandarban Yachmin Parveen Tibriji assisted him in this work. He named the saree 'Kalabati' after the name of the weaving artist.

Production of banana fiber has started in the country since last few years. Entrepreneurs are making and selling handicraft items such as bags, shoes and files using this fiber. These products are also being exported abroad.

In the meantime, youths in different neighborhoods have been trained to make handicrafts from the fibers of the banana tree in coordination with the entrepreneurs of the district. Now they are making various handicraft items including bags, shoes, files, papos, vases and pen holders. If more sarees are started to be made from the fibers of the banana tree, the locals will benefit a lot.

It has been learned that District Commissioner Yachmin Parveen Tibriji undertook a special project in 2021 for the socio-economic development of the backward communities of the district and to make them economically self-reliant. Under this project, the production of fiber from the banana tree and the manufacture of various handicrafts were started.

Later, in coordination with various entrepreneurs, the youth in different neighborhoods of the district were trained in making handicrafts from the fibers of the banana tree. The trainees are now making various handicraft items including bags, shoes, files, papos, vases and pen holders.

Besides, a shop called 'Branding Bandarban' has also been arranged in Neelachal Tourism to sell these handicrafts made by them to the tourists. Here, these handicrafts made from the fibers of the banana tree are sold to people all over the country.

Gradually the handicrafts made of banana tree fibers are well appreciated by the tourists. Later, capitalizing on this success, Deputy Commissioner Yachmin Parveen Tibriji took the initiative to make a special tantur saree. However, the artisans of the district expressed their inability to make sarees.

Later, weaving artist Radhavati was brought to Bandarban from Sylhet's Moulvibazar. Through a local entrepreneur, he started making banana fiber sarees for the first time. After a long 15 days of effort, weaving artist Radhavati made the first saree 'Kalabati' with one kg of yarn.

Atia Chowdhury, deputy director of the district women's affairs department, said, "Sari have been made for the first time in Bandarban from the fibers of the banana tree." We have manpower; They are being trained. For the first time we have made the saree in the traditional way. We have already sent a proposal to the Ministry of Jute and Textiles for commercial production through modern technology.

Regarding this exceptional initiative, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Yachmin Parveen Tibriji said, 'Thousands of tourists from different parts of the country come to visit Bandarban every day. Local women have been making various handicrafts from the fibers of the banana tree mainly thinking about the tourists. These handicrafts are in great demand among tourists. Therefore, the idea of what else can be made from the fiber of the banana plant at a low cost and in a short time, the initiative to make sarees is taken. We succeeded the first time. Hopefully, the banana tree fiber saree Kalavati will be popular with tourists.

He also said that if the production of this saree is possible commercially, the backward people will get employment as well as they will benefit financially. Apart from Bandarban, there will be different branding of the country.

The Deputy Commissioner said, initially 180 taka worth of yarn was used to make the saree. However, the sale price of saree can be up to 6 to 7 thousand rupees, he said.

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