Abdul Kuddus Sawon 38 Years A Benarashi Palli Worker Editorial Image

During partition in 1947 some 125 families migrated to Parbatipur of Rajshahi district and to various areas of Old Dhaka, Becharam Deuri, Kazi Alauddin Road, Kaiktuli, Tanti Bazar, Doyaganj and Gandaria from Benaras in India. And they brought along with them their skills of weaving the famous Benaroshi Sari. After independence of Bangladesh, the artisans who were in Dhaka started to live in the refugee camps of Mirpur and made their living from weaving saris. Mirpur Benaroshi Polli is a makeshift market spread over section 10 to 11 of Mirpur. The market was developed by people migrated from Indian city of Benaras. Most of the weavers there are also from Indian state, Bihar. According to the traders, there are nearly 110 shops at the Palli. Some 20,000 weavers and salesmen are involved with the business directly.