Counterfeit sarees are damaging reputation of Dhakai Jamdani, weavers allege

Jamdani saree artisans have alleged that sarees from other areas, tagged as Dhakai Jamdani, are harming the reputation of the traditional product of Dhaka.

They assert that many traders are selling sarees imported from India, or made by handloom in Tangail or Rajshahi as Dhakai Jamdani at cheaper prices, leaving customers in a state of bewilderment.

bdnews24.com spoke to the artisans at Jamdani Exhibition – 2016 at the National Museum on its opening day on Sunday.

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) and the museum have organised the 10-day fair.

Jamdani sarees made by weavers from BSCIC Industrial City at Rupganj in Narayanganj and Sonargaon Upazila in the same district are on display at the exhibition.

Md Anwar Ahmed, one of the weavers, recalled how Bengali women from distant areas used to come in to order Dhakai Jamdani years ago.

“The good days may have passed, but Jamdani is sill appealing,” he said.

He alleged, “Many are trading in colourful sarees, tagging them as Dhakai Jamdani by taking advantage of customers’ innocence. That’s how Jamdani is losing its reputation.”

“The customers then think there is no real Jamdani and reprimand us for this situation,” he added.

According to weavers, a regular Jamdani needs three to four days to be made while a special saree requires nearly six months.

The price begins at Tk 3,000 and goes beyond Tk 100,000 at times.

Weaver Saddat Hossain said the ‘counterfeit’ Jamdani sarees made of synthetic threads are available for Tk 800 to Tk 2,000.