PM calls for modernising weaving industry

Putting emphasis on modernisation of weaving industry and multipurpose use of its products, prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday assured the weavers of extending all kinds of cooperation for further expansion of the industry.

"Weaving is a high quality art and our aim is to expand and modernise the industry ... we are ready to extend cooperation whatever is necessary and we would continue it for the further development of the industry," she said.

The prime minister was addressing as the chief guest the first national council of Bangladesh Tanti League at the Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh auditorium at Farmgate in the capital.

Bangladesh Tanti League convenor Enajur Rahman Chowdhury presided over the council, while second joint convenor of the organisation Sadhana Das Gupta delivered the welcome address.

Awami League general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Qauder was present on the dais.

Member secretary of the Council Preparatory Committee Md Shawkat Ali placed the obituary reference and the first joint convenor Khagen Chandra Debnath submitted the organisational report.

Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated the council of the Tanti League, the Awami League's 'tantis' (weavers) front, by hoisting the national flag and releasing pigeons. convenor of the organisation Enajur Rahman Chowdhury raised the party flag at that time.

A minute's silence was also observed as a mark of profound respect to the memory of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other martyrs of the 15 August carnage as well as other leaders and workers of Awami League and its associate bodies who embraced martyrdom in different movements of the country.

Spelling out her government's various steps for the development of the weaving industry, the prime minister said the government has given necessary attention to develop and enrich the industry further.

"We want to develop and enrich the industry further ... we have an attention to achieve the goal and we would do everything necessary for it," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also advised the males to wear shirts and panjabis made by the weavers, saying that these products look very beautiful.

"The females usually use sarees made by the weavers. But males could wear shirts and panjabis ... actually these products look very beautiful," she said.

In this connection, the premier pointed out that she buys shirts and panjabis made of high quality khaddar for her children.

"They like and wear those and in this way, if everybody uses such products, the weaving industry would be developed and enriched further," she said.

Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that she always wear sarees made by Bangladeshi weavers as she always tries to project the country's heritage and culture before the people.

"You have seen that after becoming the prime minister, I don't wear French chiffon ... I always wear clothes made by Bangladesh or made by local weavers whether it is cotton or synthetic, even I wear saree made from 'khaddar'," she said.

She added: "We also have kept the sarees made by Bangladeshi weavers in the list of gifts that are presented to the foreign leaders and guests."