Photo: BSS

By Md Mamun Islam
 
RANGPUR, March 2, 2026 (BSS) - Many female artisans are extremely busy 
stitching ornaments to add extra value, fashion, and elegance to women's 
clothing ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, as their handicrafts are in high demand in the 
upscale markets.
 
Officials and development experts said that around 25,000 women in Rangpur 
division are now busy with decorative needlework at home or in local 
enterprises to earn a better income during this special time of year.
 
"These women are recognized as skilled artisans for their work in embroidery, 
spangle, and decorative stitching on sarees, three-pieces, and other 
garments," Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries 
Corporation (BSCIC) for Rangpur Md Ehesanul Hoque said.
 
Over the past decade and a half, embroidery on women's clothing has become a 
profitable venture in all eight districts of Rangpur division, alleviating 
poverty, making unemployed women self-reliant, and having a huge positive 
impact on the rural economy.
 
The BSCIC, Department of Youth Development (DYD), Bangladesh Rural 
Development Board, Department of Women Affairs (DWA), Department of Social 
Services, other departments and NGOs are working with entrepreneurs and 
businessmen to help expand this sector.
 
Deputy Director of the DYD, Rangpur, Md Abdul Khaleque said that in Rangpur 
district alone, with the help of DYD, about 3,500 rural women have changed 
their fortunes through this initiative to lead a better life along with their 
family members. 
 
The DYD provides necessary training on sewing and embroidery to unemployed 
young women, divorced and distressed women and distributes easy term loans 
and materials to make them self-reliant. 
 
"This type of home-based or enterprise-based embroidery work has taken the 
form of a growing cottage industry that has created huge employment 
opportunities for unemployed young women, alleviating poverty, transforming 
the rural economy," he said.
 
Deputy Director of the DWA for Rangpur Mst Saloara Begum said that over 4,500 
unemployed women in Rangpur district are earning a good income after 
receiving training in sewing and embroidery and assistance from the 
department.
 
Talking to BSS, female entrepreneur Sanjida Lopa said she has established 
'Taimur Boutique' in Dhal Lalkuthi area of Rangpur city where 15 young women 
are working as expert craftsmen and many of them are earning up to Taka 
16,000 per head per month. 
 
"Currently, we are facing immense pressure to supply pre-ordered oak for 
embroidery, spangle and decorative stitching on sarees, three-pieces and 
other women's wear before the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, like previous years," 
said Sanjida.
 
Chand Mia, an entrepreneur from Chankuthi Danga village in Badarganj upazila 
of Rangpur, said that he has transformed many poor rural women into skilled 
spangling and embroidery artisans by expanding the spangling industry. 
 
Artisans Farida Parveen, Shamima, Marjina, Rubi Begum and Kamrun Nahar said 
that they, like other women in the upazila, have become self-reliant through 
ornamental needlework, like unemployed girls and teenagers from Chankuthi 
Danga village. 
 
Successful artisans Fatema Khatun, Anar Koli, Mariyam, Julekha Begum, Saleha 
and Noorjahan from Saidpur upazila of Nilphamari said that before Eid, they 
usually earn Taka 12,000 per month and up to Taka 20,000 through embroidery.
 
Dr Syed Shamsuzzaman, chairman of the Rangpur-based 'North Bengal Institute 
of Development Studies', said embroidery and spangling have emerged as a 
cottage industry as rural women have taken up their own initiatives to 
transform the rural economy.
 
"Most of the successful women initially started their ventures from their 
homes. However, these home-based embroidery and spangling activities have now 
emerged as a potentially growing cottage industry sector in Rangpur 
division," he said. 
 
Many successful rural women have now launched their own ventures after 
receiving training and necessary support to expand this sector in 
collaboration with local businessmen. 
 
"Women artisans earn double their income before the Eid-ul-Fitr festival as 
they work harder to produce more high-quality clothing, including ornamental 
stitching, for women during this special time of year," he added.