25 Sitakunda women receive training on palmyra palm nursery management, handicrafts
A team from the Asian University for Women (AWU) in Chattogram initiated a movement titled “Green Bangle” to bring back the lost heritage. Under this movement, the students of AUW are reaching out to women in rural areas in Chattogram and training them to set up nurseries of palmyra and date palm saplings and craft different items with palmyra tree leaves.
A day-long training programme on nursery production of palmyra palm saplings and crafting various items using palmyra tree leaves was held in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram on Friday.
The training programme was held under an initiative, titled "Green Bangle", by a team of the Asian University for Women in Chattogram, and supported by the non-profit organisation Young Power in Social Action.
A total of 25 women from various areas of Sitakunda took part in the programme.
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Addressing the inaugural session of the programme as the chief guest, Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer KM Rafiqul Islam said, "The project [Green Bangle] will not only help upgrade the environment of the country but also empower women in rural areas."
Presiding over the programme, P Mosae Selvakumar, associate professor of chemistry at Asian University for Women and a leader of the "Green Bangle" initiative, said, "The aim of the project is to increase the number of palmyra, date palm, kewra, geowa, and bain trees in the coastal areas of Bangladesh to combat the adverse impact of climate change the country is facing now."
"Apart from local demands, there is a huge potential for exporting goods crafted with palmyra leaves. To make use of this potential, Bangladesh needs more palmyra trees and trained craftsmen," he said.
Mosae further said in Asia more than 800 edible and non-edible goods are produced from palmyra trees.
Nuzaba Tasannum, assistant project manager of the "Green Bangle" initiative, who moderated the event, said, "The project is a result of academic research done by students of AWU, which hosts women students from 17 Asian countries.
Youth Development Officer of Sitakunda Mohammad Shah Alam and Range Officer of Sitakunda Coastal Forest Kamal Hossain, and Water Development Officer SM Tarek, among others, addressed the event as special guests.
