Portfolio ECOTA Member Organizations Published by: ECOTA Fair Trade Forum 6/1 Block-A (4th Floor), Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh Published on: June 2006 DTC consultants: Chandra Shekhar Saha Md. Mahmudul Islam Publication concept: Chandra Shekhar Saha Graphics Design: Ashraful Alam Siddiqui Rishi, DTC Text Compilation: Shagufta Munir, DTC Coordination: Design and Technology Centre (DTC) Printed by: | www.h-office.com All rights reserved by GTZ PROGRESS This publication has been developed with the assistance of PROGRESS, a program supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, and implemented by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh. PROGRESS is actively involved in promoting private sector development in Bangladesh (www.gtz-progress.org). Message from Chairman Welcome to our members' portfolio! Our hope is that this can be one way to keep the Fair Trade handicrafts community together in future along with paving way for buyers and the suppliers getting to know our members vividly by this publication. No doubt it will enforce our recently establish Information services with the support of GTZ - Progress. Fair or alternative trade is a concern for "just" prices, income stability and broader social goals. With that they have the chance of building sustainable livelihood, with the assistance of alternative trade partners in the North, increased economic security, stronger social networks, and strongly democratic organizations. In addition, the ecology created by the small-scale handicraft producers is radically different and significantly more sustainable than that created by "conventional" business. As important as this is, alternative trade has additional potential. It also plays a practical, redistributive role in transforming economic structures and relations of exchange. Less apparently, but equally importantly, it unveils for Northern consumers the people, places, and relations behind the commodity, helping launch the politically crucial leap from passive consumerism to active engagement. I believe that this publication widen this practical opportunity of employing the handicraft as a cultural product. The information behind the curtain of the country's history and heritage, which makes this product unique and effective, will be realized as the process goes with like this publication. I want to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to all the actors of this publication specially to C.S.Shaha, and the people ECOTA Fair Trade Forum members who have contributed their valuable time in this publication. Abdul Awal Chairman ECOTA Fair Trade Forum Message from Director It is a great opportunity to have the chance of staying with such an option of publishing the ECOTA Fair Trade Forum members' portfolio. Particularly when it is obvious that Fair Trade has emerged as a potentially important movement to meet up unequal international market relations, seeking to transform North-South trade into an avenue for producer empowerment and poverty alleviation for social change. Markets for Fair Trade handicraft should link ethically minded Northern consumers with democratically organized groups of poor Southern producers along with the Fair Trade Organizations. The goal of this alliance, which is to provide disadvantaged producers a chance to increase their control over their own future through sustainable development; will receive an essential thrust through this publication. But it should be remembered that our process is to know how the conventional imposed development and for that it is essential to unleash the potentials of the poor producer groups. This is an ambitious and long-term venture. Yet there is urgency to this venture as well. The recent calamity of fall of RMG sector raises question on the other dependent employment. Recent statistics show that the RMG sector accounts for about a-third of both industrial workforce and incremental investment. In spite of rapid globalization and promise of a rule based global trade regime market access continues to remain constrained by components of international political economy. Drop of export earnings from the RMG apparently caused a major calamity in macroeconomic performance indicators and balances came under formidable pressure triggering a multiplier impact on the economy. In order to address the challenges facing the RMG sector both at domestic and global levels there is the need for a shift from a simplistic market access mindset to a sustainable development mindset. An interface between poverty alleviation and the reemployment of the RMG sector in the context of an enhanced market access is the need undeniable. We believe that the development of Fair Trade is expandable opportunity and our mission of opening the new windows for the fair traders in Bangladesh which will be enhanced through this, while we are on to establish the Enterprise Information Service for the same purpose. The publication has possible through the support of GTZ, with tremendous effort of the Design and Training Centre of Dhaka. A special acknowledgement is due to member Fair Trade Organisations of ECOTA Fair Trade Forum who participated in interviews. The persons who gave their time to pilot this portfolio assessment are also gratefully acknowledged. Arshad Siddiqui Director ECOTA Fair Trade Forum Contents Profile ECOTA Fair Trade Forum...........................................................................................................................2 Traditional Crafts Techniques of Bangladesh Nakshi Kantha.............................................................................................................................................6 Terracotta....................................................................................................................................................9 Handloom..................................................................................................................................................12 Cane & Bamboo........................................................................................................................................15 Artisan's Profile Nakshi Kantha Craftsman.........................................................................................................................20 Terracotta Craftsman................................................................................................................................ 21 Handloom..................................................................................................................................................22 Cane & Bamboo Craftsman......................................................................................................................23 Organizations' Profile Aranya...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Artisan Hut................................................................................................................................................ 30 BRAC Aarong............................................................................................................................................33 Charka...................................................................................................................................................... 36 CHCP........................................................................................................................................................ 39 Concern.................................................................................................................................................... 42 CORR The Jute Work............................................................................................................................... 45 Development Wheel..................................................................................................................................48 Dhaka Handicrafts.................................................................................................................................... 51 Folk International...................................................................................................................................... 54 GUP Batik................................................................................................................................................. 57 Hathay Bunano......................................................................................................................................... 60 HEED........................................................................................................................................................63 Jahanara Cottage..................................................................................................................................... 66 JBCEA...................................................................................................................................................... 69 Kumudini...................................................................................................................................................72 MCC..........................................................................................................................................................75 NRDS........................................................................................................................................................78