Several thousand families in Sitakunda, Chattogram, depend on the bamboo craft. They make a range of products from bamboo, including baskets, fish creels and cages, and sell them at market to support their households. But because of dadan moneylenders and the influence of local traders, they are denied fair prices.

The artisans often have to sit idle at home for lack of money and depend on loans. To repay those loans they go to dadan lenders, who take advantage and hold them hostage. As a result, this cottage industry is disappearing over time. The families cling to the bamboo craft for a living while trying to keep a traditional rural product alive.

A visit to the area found that thousands of bamboo products were once made in homes across rural areas, but the bamboo and cane crafts are fading away. Several thousand families in Baraiyardhala union of Sitakunda are involved in the craft. Women in villages including East Lalanagar, West Lalanagar, Fedainagar, Baharpur and Mahalanka work in it and contribute to household income alongside their husbands.

Housewife Asma Begum said: "My husband is a farmer. Alongside him, I make and sell bamboo products, which helps us financially. My parents-in-law were also in this trade. But because of local traders we don't get fair prices. No outside trader is allowed into the area, and if they come to buy products they are attacked. Local traders take a pair of cages for Tk 150. If a trader comes from outside, we can sell for Tk 200."

Bibi Khatija, another housewife from the same area, said: "One bamboo costs Tk 120 to Tk 150. One bamboo makes five cages, and it takes about two days. If the government helped us with loans, we could improve our lot."

Another housewife, Kajol Rekha, said: "Our houses are small, and it is very hard to work indoors in the rainy season. We also want the administration's help to free us from being held hostage by local traders."

Local freedom fighter Abdul Malek said: "Bamboo used to be available in the area. As industries and factories have been built, the forest is being cleared day by day, so bamboo has to be bought from far away. There is no place to sit and work at home, and rain disrupts the work. Several thousand people in this union are involved in the bamboo craft. If the government oversaw them, there would be a lot of progress."

Upazila Nirbahi Officer KM Rafiqul Islam said: "The cottage industry is known as a people-friendly industry. Most of the village women are involved in it, and it can help women advance. The upazila administration will give maximum help to free them from local traders and to develop this craft."

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.