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BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has pledged to take Bangladesh’s handloom products to global markets, saying his party would launch export initiatives for the sector if it forms the government.
Speaking at an election rally at the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Industrial Park in Sirajganj on Saturday afternoon, Tarique said Sirajganj and Pabna naturally come to mind when people think of handloom fabrics, lungis and colours, as a large number of residents in the region are directly involved in the industry, bdnews24.com reports.
“We talk about handloom, we talk about lungis, we talk about colours -- and immediately Sirajganj and Pabna come before our eyes. Many people in this area are involved in the handloom industry,” he said.
“If we can undertake proper plans for this handloom industry, then, God willing, we will be able to spread the products made here across the globe,” he said.
“Going forward, that is what we want to do -- we want to export handloom products produced in Sirajganj and Pabna to the entire world,” Tarique added.
He said he could have criticised political rivals during the rally, which would have drawn applause, but questioned whether that would benefit people.
“Bangladeshis now want to know which political party has what plans for the country and its people, so the nation can move forward,” he said.
Referring to recent political change, he said: “We have protested, we have struggled, our leaders, activists and the people of Bangladesh have sacrificed their lives, and autocracy has fallen.
“Now we must build the country -- everyone must work together.”
He also promised to establish new industrial parks across Sirajganj, Pabna and nationwide to tackle unemployment, set up agriculture-based industries in the region, and establish vocational institutes.
The rally began at 3pm with Quran recitation. Tarique reached Sirajganj by road from Bogura around 3:30pm.