STORY: Handcrafted jewellery in Bangladesh blossoms with Chinese materials
DATELINE: Aug. 7, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:15
LOCATION: Dhaka
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of people making handmade jewellery
2. various of customers visiting handmade jewellery shop and factory
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): MD ALEK CHAND, Raw material supplier
4. various of material shop
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): MD SHAMIM HOSSAIN, Jewellery trader
6. various of material shop and jewellery shop
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): NAYAN MIRZA, Visitor
 
STORYLINE:
 
Customized to showcase the unique charm of each client, the exquisite craftsmanship of jewellery created in a village in Bangladesh presents an array of enchanting options in stunning Chinese materials, captivating not just the local market but also reaching far beyond the country.
 
Vakurta village in Savar on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital city of Dhaka is a town known for its fine jewellery and ornaments created by local artists using techniques handed down from generation to generation.
 
The artisans' fine craftsmanship is the product of deft hands and acute vision that were formed over years of painstakingly sitting on floors and polishing their heritage-based talents.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (Bengali): MD ALEK CHAND, Raw material supplier
"Our technique and industry is truly rather ancient. This is a brass plate, which comes directly from China. This plate is very useful here, and various products are made through this plate. Products you are seeing now are made with this Chinese material. The products that are made with this sell better in the market. Its acceptability is very high among our traders."
 
The area has become a hub for Bangladesh's custom jewellery in recent years as hundreds of dedicated workshops have sprung up along the winding lanes.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (Bengali): MD SHAMIM HOSSAIN, Jewellery trader
"Our village is well known as a jewellery village because most of our people here are involved in this work. We all make new designs of jewellery with metal. We have to use most of the Chinese materials. For example, the pearls, lamps, stone lamps, and collets that can be seen here are all Chinese goods. All of these items, as well as some chemicals, are manufactured in China. Chinese goods are cheap, and people can buy jewellery made here cheaply because of the low price. Chinese product quality is fairly good and durable. By using Chinese raw materials we're able to produce our jewellery at a lower cost. The quality of the product is getting better and the price is getting lower so that people can use it easily."
 
Almost every home in the village doubles as a jewellery workshop, and every family member is somehow involved in producing the unique artifacts that are destined for markets across Bangladesh and beyond, especially those in the Middle East.
 
Nayan Mirza, a visitor from Dhaka, stated that women love jewellery that is both beautiful and stylish and this kind of jewellery products are very popular even today.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Bengali): NAYAN MIRZA, Visitor
"Women love jewellery that is both beautiful and stylish and (this kind of jewellery products are) very popular among us. We've seen such jewellery be used by mothers and grandmothers since childhood, and still there is the enduring appeal of this jewellery. And this (new) generation is also accepting jewellery (of this type). So I would say that the platform of jewellery business is very good for our country. So if we can work in this sector then there is a good future. I've come to see this jewellery making. I'm very pleased by the gorgeous jewellery that our nation's artists are producing. I would say that the platform of the jewellery business is very good for our country. There is a good future."
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Dhaka.
(XHTV)