Needle to Nations: Bagerhat’s women weave global impact with eco-friendly crafts

 In a quiet corner of Bagerhat’s Basabati area, the hum of sewing machines, the rustle of coconut husks and the steady hands of women workers are quietly shaping a story of empowerment, innovation and global reach.

Here, female entrepreneur Rozy Ahmed has established a women-led cottage industry where dozens of local women produce an array of handmade, environment-friendly items – birdhouses, pet beds and toys, fabric slippers, baby accessories, and decorative flower pots – each crafted with artisanal care and aimed at international markets.

Using sustainable materials such as coconut husk, bamboo, wood, cotton, fabric and jute, these products have gained popularity both at home and abroad.

Birdhouses, slippers, soft toys, and hair bands made in Bagerhat are now being exported to Belgium, Germany and Greece.

Every item stitched, shaped, or assembled in Rozy’s workshop represents not only the skill of its maker but a growing connection between rural Bangladesh and the global economy.

The initiative began in 2019, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when Rozy started producing coco poles, mulching mats and flower baskets for local sale.

As the pandemic deepened in 2020, she turned crisis into opportunity by involving unemployed women from her neighbourhood.

Starting with 10 to 12 trainees, her small venture received its first breakthrough with a bulk foreign order for 1,000 birdhouses.

“Buyers from different countries are showing interest in these eye-catching products,” Rozy said.

“Foreign clients are getting in touch through local buyers to place orders," he said.

From that point, the business began to grow. Rozy developed new designs and expanded her workforce.

By 2022, the factory was exporting to Belgium, with subsequent orders from other European countries.

In May this year alone, the factory shipped 11,000 pairs of slippers to Greece, with another 60,000 now in production.

“In total, we’ve sold products worth around Tk 5 crore, both locally and overseas,” Rozy said.

“Demand is rising, but there’s a shortage of raw materials like coconut husk. As local supply has declined, we’ve had to start importing husk from India," he said.

The enterprise has become a lifeline for many local women.

Around 50 to 60 are now employed at the factory, including college students, widows and homemakers.

College student Onti Ghosh earns Tk 400 daily making birdhouses after class. Jenny Akter, who stitches slipper soles, earns up to Tk 500 a day.

Sixty-year-old Sabitri Ghosh, widowed for several years, said the work has given her financial stability.

The factory floor is alive with movement – women cutting, stitching, assembling.

Birdhouses, slippers, toys, and pet beds all pass through their hands before being packed for delivery to distant shelves and homes.

Many workers said they take great pride in knowing their craft is reaching buyers across continents.

Rozy’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. She was recently recognised at a Bangladesh Bank SME women entrepreneurs’ fair for her contributions.

Local BSCIC officer Md Sharif Sardar praised her as a role model and pledged support with technical advice, training and access to finance if required.

Rozy hopes to expand her operations. “With government support, we can scale up and create more jobs for women,” she said.

“There’s also scope to increase exports and contribute more foreign currency to the national economy,” she added.

In the same family compound, some of Rozy’s relatives are engaged in producing eco-friendly wooden houses – complete with roofs, fences, and doors – which too are being shipped overseas.

As the clatter of tools and the rhythm of sewing continue in the heart of Bagerhat, Rozy Ahmed’s cottage industry is steadily transforming into a thriving hub of sustainable production.

With strong local roots and international ambitions, this quiet yet determined initiative is helping to redefine the role of small-scale enterprises in Bangladesh’s export landscape – one handcrafted item at a time.