Weavers, fabric designers and heritage preservation campaigners on Sunday said support from the government was essential for reviving the famous muslin fabrics. But individual initiatives were equally required for restoring the famous muslin fabrics that earned worldwide fame for this land in the past, several participants said at a day-long discussions in the capital. The ministry of cultural affairs hosted the discussion in association with Drik and Arong under a month long muslin festival that began on February 5. ‘Revival of Muslin–Policies and Institutions’ was the topic of discussion at the days first session with industry ministry additional secretary Jamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury in the chair. It would be quite impossible for any individual to revive muslin which became extinct long ago, said Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director Mostafizur Rahman while moderating the discussions. He said that coordinated efforts by the concerned government departments and private entrepreneurs alone could revive muslin. Naser Chowdhury said that unlike textile fabrics, the raw materials for the production of muslin was no more available. Thorough research was necessary for reviving the muslin technology , he said. Both muslin and jamdhani was weaved using unique intricate designs, said human rights campaigner Hameeda Hossain. ‘Muslin – Restoring our Heritage’ was the topic of discussion at the second session, chaired by National Museum director general Faizul Latif Chowdhury. In her keynote paper, research fellow of London based Muslin Trust Sonia Asmore said muslin was important to Bangali culture. Finest cotton grown at Jangalbari, Bajitpur, Kapasia and other areas of Bangladesh was used to weave muslin, she said. Visiting textile specialist from India Ruby Pal Chowdhury said that the famous muslin of Dhaka was weaved at Dhamrai and other areas close to Dhaka even during the rule of Laxman Sen’s in the 10th century. The unrivaled superiority of Muslin of Dhaka was due to the use of top quality long staple cotton. North South University teacher Sharifuddin Ahmed said muslin had a very big market globally though it was an expensive fabric. He said government should enact archival laws for the preservation of important documents. Fashion designer Bibi Russell said that muslin and Khadi were of the same family but jamdhani was of a different family of fabrics. Since nothing is impossible, muslin can be revived only if initiatives are taken, she said. ‘Manufacturing Muslin –Challenges in Cotton Growing, Spinning and Weaving’ was the topic at the third session chaired by national board of revenue chairman Nojibur Rahman. Nojib said that as a great fan of muslin he had all the optimism that muslin would be revived in this country one day. He said that during the formulation of the policies for the annual budget he would keep in mind the demand raised for government support in reviving muslin. National Craft Council president Chandra Shekar Shaha said that muslin was a handicraft product and not an industrial product. Without grooming skilled weavers it will be difficult to revive the muslin, he said. Abdul Kashem, over 80, from a family muslin weavers in Rupganj, Narayangan, said that his grandfather was a muslin weaver. He said low wages were forcing weavers to leave their hereditary profession. ‘If we get financial support and quality yarns, we will be able to produce muslin sarees of any design,’ he said. In his presentation, Cotton Development Board executive director Md Farid Uddin said that following instructions from the government , CDB was trying to find out the cultivar of phuti carpus which was the source of cotton for muslin fabrics.
