Handloom workers in frenzy as Eid approaches in Sirajganj Tant Palli. Photo: BSS

By Harun Or Rashid Khan Hasan

SIRAJGANJ, March 21, 2025 (BSS) - The Tant Palli (weaving village) of the district are buzzing with activity once again, bouncing back from the recent economic downturn. As Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, the villages are experiencing a resurgence of vitality and productivity.

From dawn till midnight, artisans labor tirelessly, weaving sarees and lungis to the steady rhythm of the looms. This year, however, factory owners are under increasing pressure due to a labor shortage, compelling them to ramp up production to keep pace with demand.

Due to the high demand for new clothes for Eid, artisans are creating sarees and lungis in a range of unique designs as each saree showcases a blend of modern and artistic craftsmanship. 

Both male and female workers are dedicatedly working in weaving villages. Their tasks include filling tubes, preparing yarn, and applying starch, contributing to the intricate process of garment production.

Factory owners said that the prices of sarees and lungis have risen due to the increasing costs of dyes, yarn, and essential raw materials. 

Panchlia, a village in Salanga renowned as the weaving hub of Sirajganj district, has upheld its reputation for generations. Nearly every household in the village operates at least 10 to 20 looms. The well-known Panchlia cloth market, located in Sirajganj, attracts wholesale buyers from across the country who come to purchase a variety of sarees, lungis, and gamchas (a type of scarf). The sarees and lungis produced in this village have earned recognition both nationally and internationally.

During the Eid season, the workload in Salanga's weaving village multiplies significantly. Both workers and merchants are constantly busy, with little time to rest. The factories produce a variety of sarees and lungis, including Jamdani, Cotton Jamdani, Katan, Benarasi, Kon Jamdani, and Half Silk.

Sarees and lungis produced in various villages of the area including Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Sadar Panchlia, Amdanga, Horgati, Ratankandi, Badullapur, Tarutia, Hasanpur, Hatikumrul, Jagannathpur are being sold to different parts of the country by wholesale traders.

Alhaj Idris Ali, one of Panchlia's prominent loan sharks, said that the sarees and lungis produced in the region are renowned across the country. 

He said the weaving industry has faced a slight downturn, further exacerbated by rising costs of dyes, yarn, and other essential raw materials, and for this, many looms have shut down. 

"Despite these challenges, we are striving to preserve this ancestral profession and sustain the industry," he added.

Hafizur, the owner of Faruk Weaving Factory, said that in preparation for Eid, workers are tirelessly producing sarees and lungis in a variety of colors. To recognize their hard work, an Eid bonus has also been arranged for them, he added. 

Tant traders Shafiqul Islam and Munsur Ali emphasized that if the prices of raw materials, dyes, yarn, and labor are kept in check, the traditional weaving industry of Panchlia could regain its former strength.

He said that this year, the dominance of foreign sarees has declined, while the prices of locally woven products have risen. 

However, traders argued that profits will remain low due to the high costs of dyes and yarn. 

To sustain the weaving industry in Sirajganj, industry owners have urged the government to lower the prices of dyes and yarn and provide low-interest loans to weavers. 

They also alleged that a syndicate has taken control of the dye and yarn market, causing prices to rise continuously.

Sirajganj Chamber of Commerce and Industries President, Saidur Rahman Bachchu, told BSS that demand for Sirajganj's loom products has risen significantly this year compared to previous years. However, traders are struggling with the high costs of dyes and yarn, he added. 

He urged the government to lower the prices of these materials to sustain the region's loom industry.