“The government, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will do its best to preserve Jamdani and all our heritages,” she said.
She was speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of a five-week Jamdani Festival 2019. It has been jointly organised by the National Crafts Council of Bangladesh (NCCB) and Bengal Foundation at Bengal Shilpalay in Dhanmondi.
The festival centres on ‘Construction of Heritage’, an exhibition of Jamdani sarees crafted by leading handicraft houses of the country.
Dipu Moni noted that Unesco has declared Jamdani as an intangible cultural heritage of Bangladesh. “It’s also been enlisted as our Global Index, which is a matter of pride for us,” she said.
The education minister said the government is positive about making Sonargaon the world Craft City.
She urged the young generation to buy and use more Jamdani products to breathe new life into this cultural heritage.
Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, in her speech as the special guest, lauded the hosts for arranging such an exhibition to uplift Bangladeshi heritage and requested them to arrange similar programmes in Narayanganj, the home of Jamdani.
“We’ll provide every support to develop the Jamdani industry,” she said.
Five master weavers and their apprentices were given the ‘Best Craftsman Award’ at the programme.
President of the World Crafts Council Asia-Pacific Region Dr Ghada Hijjawi Qaddumi, President of the NCCB Rafiqul Islam, and Chairman and founder of Bengal Foundation Abul Khair also spoke at the programme.
The five-week exhibition will display 30 Jamdani pieces crafted by leading fashion and handicraft houses including Aarong, Arannya, Kumudini Handicraft and Tangail Saree Kutir.
Jamdani sarees from private collectors will also be displayed.
The exhibition is open to all every day, except Sundays, from 12pm to 8pm until October 12.
A seminar titled “Jamdani: Past, Present and Future” is scheduled to be held on Saturday at Women Voluntary Association in Dhanmondi as part of the festival.