ower Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood inaugurates Sirajganj handloom training centre, opening new opportunities for weavers and entrepreneurs. Photo : PID

SIRAJGANJ, July 18, 2026 (BSS) - Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said Sirajganj has a long-standing tradition in the handloom industry, and the newly established training centre will open up new opportunities for local weavers. 

Through training, weavers will have the opportunity to grow from small entrepreneurs into large-scale business owners and contribute more significantly to the country's economy, he said.

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the handloom training centre built by the Bangladesh Handloom Board in the sadar upazila.

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam also addressed the event.

Textiles and Jute Secretary Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury and Bangladesh Handloom Board Chairman Abu Ahmed Siddique were present among others. 

Iqbal said such centers will play important role in industrialization and job creation. He noted that by improving skills and ensuring the use of modern technology, new entrepreneurs would emerge at the local level and economic activities would become more dynamic.

In his speech, Md. Shariful Alam said Sirajganj is one of the major hubs of Bangladesh's handloom industry as around 50,000 weavers and more than 100,000 people are directly and indirectly involved in the sector in the region. 

He said that the handloom industry of Sirajganj is not only the foundation of the local economy but also a unique expression of the country's heritage, culture, and creativity.

He added that the newly established Handloom Training Centre and Basic Centre would serve as an effective platform for developing skilled human resources, expanding modern technology, promoting innovative designs, and creating new entrepreneurs. 

Young men, women, and weavers receiving training there would be able to secure employment and create self-employment opportunities, he said.

The state minister further noted that Sirajganj's lungi and gamcha have already received Geographical Indication (GI) recognition. 

This recognition has helped showcase Bangladesh's heritage on the international stage, he said. 

He emphasized the need to focus on ensuring product quality, developing modern designs, strengthening branding, and further consolidating the products' position in international markets.

He also said that the government is working to make the handloom industry more competitive. 

The Sirajganj Handloom Training Centre will produce skilled artisans and entrepreneurs through modern equipment, training facilities, and necessary infrastructure, he said adding that arrangements will also be made to connect trained individuals with industrial enterprises and ensure regular monitoring to facilitate employment.

Alam further announced that weavers are being provided with loans at an easy 4 percent interest rate. 

This support is enabling marginal weavers to expand their production activities, and the government plans to bring more weavers under the scheme in the future, he said.

Sirajganj Basic Centre was established in 1987 to improve the socio-economic condition of weavers in Sirajganj Sadar, Kamarkhand, Kazipur, and Tarash upazilas. 

At present, the centre oversees 35 primary and one secondary weavers' cooperative society. So far, it has provided approximately about Tk 12.68 crore in loan assistance to 2,282 weavers.