Benapole – Weaving decorative bird nests has turned out to be a life changing endeavour for some women in several areas of Jessore Sadar upazila in Southwest Bangladesh as they have become self-dependent by selling the handicraft product.
In Kachua, Bahadurpur, Chawlia and Bejpara Bunopara areas of Sadar upazila, around 200 women have been directly involved in the craft.They are making use of locally available and biodegradable materials, including bamboo, rattan, coconut coir, jute, bamboo leaf, straw and cotton, for the bird nests that are now being exported to European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.
When the raw material is supplied by a businessman, the craftswomen charge Tk 0.7-1.2 for weaving each nest. If the craftswomen use their own raw material, they sell those at Tk 10-12 per piece.
Women are carrying out the weaving work after doing their daily household chores. Each of them can make around 75-150 nests per day.
In Bejpara Bunopara area of the district town, around 30 women of 20 families are involved in the craft.
Indra Saha, a craftswoman, said that she has been in the bird nest weaving for last 20 years which is a significant income source for the family now.
Gourango Saha, a local agent of a Dhaka-based businessman, said they send at least one truckload of the decorative bird nests to Dhaka each month. – UNB
