Senior Secretary of the Industries Ministry Zakia Sultana on Sunday said Jamdani, the most artistic textile of Bangladeshi weavers, will be branded internationally as its alternative is now rare in the contemporary world.

"Jamdani is unparallel due to its quality weaving technique and beautiful design ... and now it is time to branding the fabric across the world as an alternative of Muslin," she said, reports BSS.

To this end, she said necessary initiatives have already been taken on behalf of the concerned ministry.

Of the initiatives include imparting training to the entrepreneurs engaged with this industry, manufacturing of international standard packing, providing incentives for export and arrangement of showcasing at all Bangladeshi foreign missions.

As the fabrics are very much comfortable, so it is very much preferred to the foreigners across the world, Zakia Sultana said, adding: "A training programme has began for the young weavers on March 11, this year as they are not expert at all about the design of the saris."

In 2013, the traditional art of weaving jamdani was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Though mostly used for saris, Jamdani is also used for scarves and handkerchiefs. Jamdani is believed to be a fusion of the ancient cloth-making techniques of Bengal (possibly 2,000 years old) with the muslins produced by Bengali Muslims since the 14th century.

Jamdani is the most expensive product of Dhaka looms since it requires the most lengthy and dedicated work.

Chaired by BISCIC's Chairman Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, the programme was also attended, among others, by Cultural Secretary Khalil Ahmed and Director General (DG) of the Bangladesh National Museum M Kamruzzaman.

Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque