Rajshahi’s silk industry is looking to make a fresh comeback, with China’s vast market offering new opportunities for exports, investment and employment.
Silk is more than an industry for Rajshahi; it is deeply linked to the region’s history, heritage and economy. Once renowned at home and abroad as a symbol of elegance and sophistication, the famed ‘Rajshahi Silk’ lost much of its former glory amid various challenges. However, initiatives involving modern research, technology and international cooperation are now raising hopes of reviving the traditional industry.
The prospects were highlighted at a conference on silk cultivation, research and development held in Rajshahi on Tuesday (August 18) in the context of strategic cooperation between Bangladesh and China. The conference was held at the conference room of the Bangladesh Sericulture Research and Training Institute.
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam MP attended the conference as the chief guest. Earlier, he visited the Bangladesh Silk Factory and the Sericulture Research and Training Institute.
The state minister said the government has taken various initiatives at the grassroots level to modernise Rajshahi’s traditional silk industry and restore its lost glory.
He said emphasis is being given to improving silk cultivation methods, expanding mulberry cultivation and enhancing the quality of silk yarn through modern technology, research and training.
“Rajshahi silk is not merely an industry; it is part of the country’s heritage and pride. The government is working to revive the sector through modern technology, research and training,” he said.
Referring to China as a promising destination for Bangladesh’s silk products, the state minister said initiatives have been taken, in line with the election manifesto, to reopen state-owned closed industrial units.
Alongside reopening the closed factories, the government is planning to expand markets and attract both domestic and foreign investment. Work is also underway to improve the marketing policy for the development of Rajshahi’s silk industry, he added.
Industry insiders said China, one of the world’s largest silk producers and consumers, could offer a huge market for Bangladeshi silk. Establishing a distinct position for Bangladeshi silk in the Chinese market could directly benefit silk farmers, weavers and entrepreneurs in Rajshahi.
They said producing high-quality silk yarn and fabrics, coupled with modern designs, packaging, branding and marketing strategies, could help establish ‘Rajshahi Silk’ as a strong international brand.
The conference also highlighted the historical significance of Rajshahi’s silk industry. The state minister said the ‘Rajshahi Silk Board’ was established in 1977 under the leadership of then President Ziaur Rahman. Various initiatives were subsequently undertaken to develop the sector.
The latest production figures also indicate renewed activity in the industry. Since the reopening of the concerned factory in 2018, a total of 59,468 metres of silk fabric had been produced up to June 2026.
The factory’s own showroom currently sells a range of silk products, including traditional Garad sarees, printed sarees, fabrics for panjabis and Balaka Silk.
Experts believe that effective application of research findings at the field level could increase both the volume and quality of silk production. They stressed the need for improved varieties of mulberry and silkworms, modern training for farmers, technology-based production systems and greater knowledge and technology exchange with China.
The conference, organised by the China-Bangladesh Silk Research Centre, was viewed by stakeholders as more than an event focused on research and development. They see it as an important step towards transforming Rajshahi silk from a local heritage product into a potential international commodity.
Effective access to the Chinese market could boost exports, investment and employment while creating positive impacts on the rural economy, they said.
Rajshahi-6 MP Abu Said Chand, Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Professor Xu Qizhi, Vice Dean of the School of Fashion Design and Engineering at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and Professor Nusrat Jahan Nipa, project initiator and chief coordinator of the China-Bangladesh Silk Research Centre, attended the conference as special guests.
The conference was chaired by Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board Director General Md Toufiq Al Mahmud. Dr Md Shakhawat Hossain, senior scientific officer at the Bangladesh Sericulture Research and Training Institute, presented the keynote paper.
The conference was organised by the China-Bangladesh Silk Research Centre in collaboration with the Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board.
