Day: March 4, 2024
The Journey of Ceramics in Bangladesh
The origin of pottery in Bangladesh dates back to the later or post Mohenjo-daro and Harappa civilization and to the Indo-Aryan Vedic age, according to the research on ceramic earthenware and artifacts found after excavation of the ruins in Mahasthangarh of Bogura and Wari-Bateshwar in Narsingdi. Discoveries in Wari-Bateshwar included two millennium old potteries and terracotta. The potters then used traditional methods to make water vessels and sculptures for worshipping and as household utensils and showpieces. In the medieval age, the potters were popularised by the Hindu and Buddhist rulers and zamindars when they used to make statues of gods and goddesses, Buddha, plates, other aesthetical items and terracotta plaques in the temples and monasteries. The potters made everyday household items for sale in the local markets to earn a living. In the past century, the white clay deposits were first found in Mymensingh, Sylhet and Netrokona, the largest of which was discovered at Bijoypur of Mymensingh in 1957. Since the discovery of the white clay reserves in Bangladesh, the ceramic industry has come a long way. ‘Ceramic’ comes from the Greek word meaning ‘Pottery’. The journey of ceramics started through pottery and was initially only a mixture of inorganic, non-metallic clay which could be heated at very high temperature to make it hold its shape. Since then, mankind has found multifarious uses for this clay and the quality of the clay has been improved. Ceramic in this era has much hardness and strength, is heat resistant, is a good insulator, unreactive to other chemicals and long-lasting and hard-wearing. Among its many uses, the ceramics industry started in Bangladesh with just the manufacture of tableware and now covers four broad subsectors: Tableware, Tiles, Sanitary ware and Ceramic Bricks. A brief review of the journey of ceramics in Bangladesh is portrayed below. In 1959 the industry took its nascent steps with only one small tableware manufacturing plant in Bogura, Tajma Ceramic Industries Ltd. Tajma Ceramics is the first ceramic earthenware plant to produce porcelain tableware using traditional methods. In 1962, Mirpur Ceramic Works Ltd in Dhaka started to produce heavy clay products using German plant and technology and developed a reputation of manufacturing best quality ceramic bricks in the subcontinent. In 1966, Peoples Ceramic Industries Ltd, formerly known as Pakistan Ceramic Industries, located in Tongi, Gazipur, started production using modern porcelain tableware manufacturing technology procured from Japan. They started exporting their products. In 1974, the country’s first non-heavy clay building ceramic plant came on the stream, Dacca Ceramic & Sanitary-wares Ltd. The company was the first to start production of sanitary ware at Tngi, Gazipur. In 1985, Monno Ceramic Industries Ltd transformed and revolutionised the exports of local ceramic products by branding Bangladesh ceramic products on an international level, using West European and Japanese plants and machinery. Monno Ceramic is the first industry to use ultra-modern technologies to produce porcelain tableware aimed at exporting worldwide. Later it added its bone china tableware unit also aimed at improving the exports of ceramic tableware from Bangladesh. In 1986, Bangladesh Insulator & Sanitary ware Factory Ltd. (BISF) started manufacture of ceramic tiles at Mirpur, Dhaka, with Czech machinery and technology. In the same year, Bengal Fine Ceramics Ltd, the first stoneware tableware manufacturer in Bangladesh, located in Dhaka, entered the domestic and international markets. In 1992, with the exponentially growing ceramic industry, a nationally recognised trade organisation of manufacturers and exporters of ceramic tableware, pottery, tiles, sanitary ware, insulator and other ceramic products was formed, called Bangladesh Ceramic Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BCMEA). In 1993, Madhumati Tiles Ltd. became the country’s first tile manufacturer to use modern German and Italian technologies to produce the latest standard ceramic tiles that domestic consumers see and use at present. In 1999, Shinepukur Ceramics Ltd. started production of porcelain and bone china tableware with Japanese, German and French machinery and technology. It earned a reputation for being one of the major exporters in Asia. Ceramic Industry Scenario (FY 2021-22) An industrial revolution has resulted in a burgeoning Ceramic Industry since the start of its journey with just one small tableware manufacturing plant. Today, there are more than 70 ceramic manufacturers in operation in the country with core products being tiles, tableware, sanitary ware and bricks. As the country experiences steady economic growth and urbanisation, the local demand for ceramic products too continues to grow. These ceramic bricks, tiles and sanitary ware have been used in several mega projects by the government to ensure overall infrastructural development. The growth trend is an indication of the industry’s potential to be one of the top foreign exchange earners. And the tableware made in Bangladesh, both Bone China and Porcelain, is famous around the world for its eminent quality and design. Here is a snapshot of Bangladesh’s ceramic industry: Quality Raw Materials: The exponential growth in the ceramic sector is owing to the high-quality ceramic products manufactured in Bangladesh. The ceramic sector has the availability of uninterrupted Sulphur-free natural gas and the latest cutting-edge technologies imported from Germany, which make our products shinier and more durable. The glaze and pigments are lead and cadmium-free and 100 per cent halal ingredients are used in the production process. The other factor in favour of the industry flourishing is the relatively low labour cost yet availability of skilled manpower. The direct manpower involvement in the industry is about 52,000 whilst the indirect involvement is over half a million. The industry is considerably compassionate towards the women and people with disability. The industry works to train women and physically challenged workers for inclusivity. Around 20 per cent of the workforce is highly-skilled women. Today owing to these favourable conditions, the industry is distinguished around the world. Investment: The total investment, both local and international, in the industry is about US$ 1.70 billion. The investment share of tiles is 62 per cent, tableware 23 per cent and sanitary ware 15 per cent. The sector has lured foreign investment mainly from China and the Middle East. These
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A Bridge to Prosperity – From Transport Connectivity to Economic Corridor
The opening of the Padma Bridge has created the scope for a new wave of investment in the country’s south and south-western region. The region’s easier road communications with the rest planned and tourism sector entrepreneurs are hoping for a business boom surrounding Kuakata sea beach and the Sundarbans. Thus, the bridge has offered a new economic corridor in the making. Economists and business leaders believe with remarkable improvement in road network though the bridge trade and business in the region would expand rapidly, raising the people’s income, creating jobs and eradicating poverty. The Padma Bridge is also expected to bring about a massive change in the entire economy. The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges believes the economic corridor surrounding the Padma Bridge and its adjacent areas would increase the country’s GDP (gross domestic product) growth by 1.27 percentage point. The southern region’s economy will grow at a higher pace. Predicting a higher GDP growth for the Padma Bridge, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said the rate of poverty reduction will be accelerated by 0.84 per cent every year. However, as many as 53 upazilas out of 133 upazilas in 21 districts on the south-western side of the bridge are of high concentration of poverty, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) poverty map. Another 42 upazilas are in the medium poverty risk category and 38 in low poverty risk category. Economist and chairman of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said small entrepreneurs are more enthusiastic about the Padma Bridge and they should be provided with opportunity to make investment and various supports such as gas and electricity supply should be ensured at affordable costs. He observed that the bridge has jointed the southern belt with the rest of the country. The bridge will result in smooth transportation of farm produces from the region, according to Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of the Ministry of Planning. It said farmers’ income will increase 15-20 per cent since direct connections between farmers and the market forces will be established. Transport sector insiders added the time for transportation of goods from Benapole to Dhaka would come down to 6-7 hours from 24-36 hours. The southern region was attractive for low-cost transport of goods by river routes but longer time and uncertainity in ferry services earlier discouraged the entrepreneurs from taking business initiatives. The Padma Bridge has now created the scope for big companies to come forward with investment projects in the region. The companies that have shown interest in setting up factories in the region include Sheltech, Pran-RFL, TK Group, Envoy Group, Hameem Group, Mir Group, Karim Group and Opsonin Pharma. Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) has unveiled a master plan on Padma Bridge that would directly benefit Dhaka, Khulna and Barisal divisions. It is taking steps to establish 17 new Economic Zones (EZ) in 21 districts of the three divisions. In the 1960s, Khulna became one of the few industrial hubs of the country but it has subsequently lost the glory. However, after the launch of Padma Bridge, Khulna is drawing attention of the investors. Abdus Salam Murshedi MP, president of Bangladesh Exporters’ Association (BEA) and former president of BGMEA said, “I definitely want to use this opportunity. I want to set up a new garment factory in Khulna. I also encourage others to invest in the region.” In fact in 2019, Sheltech Group established the country’s largest ceramics industry in the southern district of Bhola. The company invested more than Tk 7 billion taking advantage of local natural gas and cheap land with the hope of opening of the Padma Bridge in 2022. Now, Sheltech is also planning to set up a non-denim garment factory in Bhola, said Engineer Kutubuddin Ahmed, chairman of the group. “We are now looking for land to set up a ready-made garment industry in Barisal. After the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, investing in the south is the most promising one,” he added. Chini Tikri the inaugural murals the inaugural murals One of the two spectacular installations at each end of the Padma Bridge is its inaugural mural – which has been constructed by using 15,000 ceramic plates. The portraits of Father of the Nation tbreaking these 37 coloured plates into ‘Chini Tikri’. One was the dreamer of Padma Bridge and the another one is its implementer. As the ceramic plate is broken and made, it starts to sparkle when the sun shines on it. These ceramic plates are hammered and broken into about half a million pieces. Then different colours of the pieces are arranged one after one to create two beautiful portraits. Designed by architect Fazle Karim Shishir of Drishik, the two murals were created by artists Ashraful Alam Riaz and Didar Ul Alam. Both are graduated from the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University. The 90-feet-long and 45-feet-high mural at the Mawa end was done by Didar Ul Alam and the 72-feet-long and 36-feet-high mural at the Janzeera end was done by Ashraful Alam Riaz. They told Ceramic Bangladesh that at first the designer thought of making this mural with ceramic tiles, but later they chose ceramic plates of the highest quality considering the bright colour and durability. A total of 15,000 plates of 37 types of colours have been used here. Among them, 7 types of coloured plates are used to display black and white portrait of Bangabandhu. And 30 types of coloured plates are used to produce colourful portrait of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. All of these ceramic plates are customised. Because such a variety of colour plates are not usually produced by ceramic companies. Artisan Ceramics made 8,000 plates used in the Mawa end mural and Monno Ceramics made 7,000 plates used in the Janzeera end mural. This construction work was completed in two months by two separate teams of 50 people, working 24 hours a day, after last Eid-ul-Fitr. No bigger mural has been made in Bangladesh so far. Artist Ashraful Alam Riaz, Managing
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Untold Story of The Father of Ceramic Bangladesh
Have you ever noticed a similarity between government buildings? Have you ever wondered why most of them have a reddish surface? Why are all national monuments founded on red architectural bases? How are hundreds of government structures standing tall prioritising only red ceramic bricks? Schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, airports, government offices, quarters, and parks such structures and the list goes on and on. Everything, every single structure is designed with ceramic red bricks. Is this any official rule? Or, is it a legacy since the British period? Or have the architects decided to create a similar pattern? We all have many interesting stories to tell but these red ceramic bricks have much more to say. This one is an unpublished story about the red ceramic bricks. It unfolds how a visionary thinking and support of a great man has changed the shape and outlook of architecture in Bangladesh. Communal Violence Let’s go back to 1946. The violent legacy of the British India’s partition spread across the subcontinent. It was a grave attack on all of humanity. People were uprooted from their ancestral homes in the name of religion. Communities that had coexisted for almost a millennium attacked each other in a terrified outbreak of sectarian violence –a mutual genocide that was never expected. The carnage was especially intense with massacres, arson, forced conversions, mass abductions and savage sexual violence. Mass Migration Immediately after the partition began one of the largest migration of modern human history, as millions of Muslims trekked to West and East Pakistan while thousands of Hindus and Sikhs headed in the opposite direction. The summer of 1947 witnessed a mass migration. According to the book “The Great Divide” by William Dalrymple, around 15 million people had been uprooted, and between one to two million were dead. The people who could afford to, left in planes, ships or special trains. Most of them took regular trains and the poorest of the poor travelled on foot or cart. The summer of 1947 witnessed the biggest mass migration in human history. Around 15 million had been uprooted, and between one or two million were dead. AND THE TABANIS During that time in Gujarat, there lived an aristocrat rich Muslim family, “The Tabanis”. Like other traditional Gujaratis, the Tabanis were also involved in business and lived in a joint family. From their ancestral times, they were into textiles and yarn business. The two young brothers– Ariff Wali Mohammad Tabani and Rashid Wali Mohammad Tabani– used to look after their business and assets. They were well settled with dignity until the fear of communal violence had spread across their state. RASHID WALI MOHAMED TABANI RASHID WALI MOHAMED TABANI Compared to Panjab and Bengal, Gujarat’s experience of violence was not as much worse, even though the state had a long border with Muslim state of Pakistan. Over a million people migrated to Gujarat, mostly from neighbouring Sindh province of Pakistan. The Tabanis were unaffected during the unrest but the news of sufferings coming from the surrounding states forced them to rethink their future steps. The worried Muslim family decided a permanent migration to East Pakistan (currently Bangladesh) along with their prized possessions. Bangladesh was not unknown to the Tabanis. They frequently visited this part of the British Indian sub-continent for expansion of their textile business in their early days. During that period they had already developed a liking for this beautiful lush green land and its amicable and accommodative people. The brothers considered this Muslim majority land as the safest to live seeing an unbound opportunity to explore their textile legacy. Protecting Harmony During the communal riots, young Shiekh Mujibur Rahman was in Kolkata. According to his unfinished autobiography (Oshomapto Attojiboni), he was given the responsibility of guarding a Muslim-inhabited slum. Young Mujib stood firmly in front of the rioters to stop them. He along with his political comrades marched around the streets of Kolkata to protect the victims. People of both religions had been bloodied. The attitude of revenge and counter-revenge was on both sides. Mahalla after Mahalla (locality) had been burnt down. In the midst of all this, Mujib did not hesitate to come forward to help the victims, saving lives of both Hindus and Muslims even at the risk of his own life. Sheikh Mujib’s engagement in maintaining peace and communal harmony in Kolkata was noticeable and for that he was made the leader of hundreds of rescue workers and sent to Patna of Bihar to handle the riot situation on behalf of then Muslim League leader Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy. By the time he came back to Kolkata, he was literally sick as well as sickened by what he had experienced in the past few months. In addition, the political activities of Muslim league were difficult to continue during that time in Kolkata. So, Shiekh Mujib returned to East Bengal after taking permission from his political guru Suhrawardy. And then, there started the beginning of a new era. Dream of a capital city The failure to get Dhaka as the capital of Pakistan was painful for a young Bangabandhu. However, the provincial capital of East Pakistan, Dhaka, was declared as the second capital that’s of Pakistan. He had to wait 25 years to make Dhaka a complete capital of an independent country. Bangabandhu said that although Dhaka was the provincial capital, it had already been declared the second capital of Pakistan. Therefore, there were plans to build a lot of large infrastructures and buildings here soon, which were to be of world class and long lasting. Mujib did not hesitate to come forward to help the victims, saving lives of both Hindu and Muslim communities even at the risk of his own life A New Beginning The Tabani family migrated safely and settled in their new home in Old Dhaka. It was a new place, a new environment and a new opportunity to meet new people – ideal for a fresh start. The inherent spirit of adventure and the
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