Decorative embroidery, needlework and spangling on women's clothing has become a viable profession and enterprise for the economic empowerment of poor rural women in Rangpur division.
Nearly 50,000 women across the eight districts of the division are engaged in decorative embroidery, sewing and spangle work as needlework artisans in their homes or in local enterprises.
They are earning a dignified livelihood, becoming economically empowered and leading a better life with their family members.
According to Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), experts and NGO sources, about 50,000 rural housewives, divorcees, unemployed young girls, adolescents, students and widows are engaged in this profession, and many of them have already achieved self-reliance.
The rural females, with assistance from BSCIC, different government organisations and NGOs, have adopted embroidering, spangling and ornamental stitching on sarees, three pieces and other female clothes as a profession to change their fortune.
The Department of Youth Development (DYD), Bangladesh Rural Development Board, Department of Women Affairs (DWA), Department of Social Services, other departments and NGOs are assisting to expand the sector jointly with local traders and entrepreneurs.
Deputy General Manager of Rangpur BSCIC Office Md Ehsanul Haque said the female artisans remain busy embroidering, spangling and doing ornamental stitching on sarees, three pieces and other clothes throughout the year and earn well.
"These craftswomen remain very busy earning more before the Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja festivities as demand for their products increases many times in the fashion markets of the capital city, other cities and towns across the country," he said.
The embroidery works of the women artisans add additional value to the female clothes, allowing them to be marketed at higher prices in the country's sophisticated markets, including the capital city.
Deputy Director of the DYD, Rangpur Md Abdul Faruk said some 2,500 women are earning well after receiving training on embroidery with DYD assistance, enabling them to lead a better life with their family members while contributing to keeping the rural economy moving onwards.
"We provided necessary training to these unemployed female youths, divorcees and distressed women on sewing and embroidery and disbursed easy-term loans and inputs in recent years to make them self-reliant," he said.
He added that the home-based or enterprise-based embroidery or ornamental stitching work has developed into a growing cottage industry, creating substantial jobs for unemployed female youths, reducing poverty and transforming the rural economy.
Similarly, about 4,500 unemployed women in Rangpur division are engaged in ornamental sewing after receiving training and assistance from RDRS Bangladesh, a reputed NGO, over the years to become self-reliant.
Deputy Director of the DWA, Rangpur Most Saloara Begum said many unemployed female youths are earning well after receiving training on sewing and embroidering, with assistance from the DWA.
Talking to BSS, female entrepreneur Sanjida Lopa said she has set up 'Taimur Boutique' where 14 female youths are working as expert artisans in Dhap Lalkuthi area in Rangpur city, with many earning up to Taka 15,000 every month per head.
"We face huge pressure to supply previously ordered work on embroidering, spangling and ornamental stitching on sarees, three pieces and other female clothes throughout the year," Lopa said.
Local entrepreneur Chand Mia of village Chankuthi Danga in Badarganj upazila of Rangpur said he has expanded the spangling industry, generating employment for many poor rural women by training them as expert spangling and embroidery artisans.
Craftswomen Mohua Begum, Joytsna Khatun, Nahar Banu, Shamima, Marjina, Sohana and Mollika said they have achieved self-reliance through ornamental needlework, like other unemployed women and girls of Chankuthi Danga village in the upazila.
Successful craftswomen Anar Koli, Mahbuba, Shabana Begum, Saleha Khatun and Noorjahan of Saidpur upazila in Nilphamari said they generally earn Taka 15,000 monthly and up to Taka 20,000 through embroidery work.
Chairman of 'North Bengal Institute of Development Studies' Dr Syed Samsuzzaman said embroidery and spangling have developed into a cottage industry as rural women have launched their own enterprises to transform the rural macro-economy.
"The craftswomen earn Taka 12,000 to 20,000 per month depending on their expertise and the quality of decorative work on sarees, three pieces and other female clothes with spangling, ornamental stitching and embroidery," he added.
