In Bandarban, training on making handicraft products with yarn produced from banana fiber has started. Bandarban District Commissioner Yasmin Parvin Tibriji inaugurated the training program as the chief guest in Bandarban University Hall on Tuesday (January 3) afternoon.
Bandarban Sadar Upazila Parishad Chairman AKM Jahangir, Executive Magistrate Rajib Kumar Biswas, Women Affairs Department Deputy Director Atia Chowdhury, Bandarban University Lecturer Saing U Nini and women leaders of various organizations and trainees of Bandarban were present.
Chief guest Yasmin Parvin Tibriji said at the inauguration of the training program that Bandarban is a beautiful hilly district. And many banana trees grow in different hills of this district. After harvesting the bananas, the banana trees are discarded. We first trained yarn production from this banana fiber.
She said, this time we are working to make the women of the hilly areas self-reliant as well as change their economic condition by training them to make handicraft products with that yarn. She also urged everyone to support the development of women.
A year ago, it was decided to make banana fiber as a pilot project in Bandarban. According to the decision, World Vision Bangladesh and Grouse started the village survey, initially 63 villages were surveyed and 9 paras and villages were selected for this project and the work started accordingly.
It is known that the parts of the two sides of the banana tree are cut and peeled and the yarn is taken out through the semi-auto machine made with domestic technology. This yarn is dried in the sun on a bamboo rack. After drying, the yarn color becomes golden.
A person can make 10 to 15 kg of yarn per day. It earns 800 to 900 taka per day excluding expenses. However, technological change and automation may make it possible to produce more yarn. It is possible to produce 1 kg of yarn from 5 banana trees and families who are not directly involved in this project will also benefit financially by selling banana trees to the yarn producer.
This yarn is in great demand in abroad as it is eco-friendly. It is possible to produce more yarn if government facilities are available. It can even create employment by creating more entrepreneurs in the sector if desired.
The organizers said that 40 trainees from the district headquarters are participating in this year’s training. This training will continue for next one week.
