Introduction
Karupannya Rangpur,is a renound and global brand. This organization has re-introduced the lost crafts in the country and abroad. Although it started with Satranji, now various kinds of handicraft products are being made in handicraft factories. Satranji is basically a type of carpet, Satranji was once used as a special seat in the houses of elite class of society, bungalow house or Khajanchikhana. Shataranji comes from the Persian word shataranj. A chess board is called a Shataranj and it is named Shataranji because of its similarity in design to the chess board. Their products are Rugs, Doormats, Bathmats, Placemats, Cushion Covers, Storage Basket, Coasters, Wall Hangings etc. Bangladeshi hand-made rug enterprise exactly in that vigour and enthusiasm that is constituted of the community, by the community and for the community.
Journey of Karupannya
In 1991, Shafiqul Alam Selim took charge of the closed craft development center of BSCIC(Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation). Karupannya was born in 1991 in Rangpur with the mindset of rebirth of the thousand-year-old Satranji artistry of Bengal. However the journey was not an easy task.
The story goes back much earlier. During the colonial British-India,(In 1830) Mr. Nishbet, then the Collector in Rangpur region, at one time took an initiative to encourage the traditional artistic practice of these people and eventually set up a fresh village, later the village known as Nishbetganj, famous for the artisans of Satranji.
Sadly enough, this Renissance phase of the Satranji hereditament could not last for long and eventually pass out in the face of an aggressive emergence of artificial carpets churning out from the 18th and 19th century industries of Britain and many other countries.
In 1986, he made 1500 pictures from wheat straw and gave a stall at the Dhaka Art Fair. I thought it would sell a lot, but any single pictures were not sold. The pictures were of the liberation war of Bangladesh with eminent personalities from home and abroad. He was disappointed that the picture did not sell. Then he hung up on the stall ‘Would you like to have your picture made out of wheat straw?’ Then the orders started pouring in. He used to make an average of 10 pictures every day. Sales are also good. Encouraged by this, he returned to Rangpur. Keep thinking, do handicraft work.
In 1987, while doing student politics, he was arrested and sent to Rangpur Jail. Jails had weavers, where the inmates worked on handloom weaving. He stood and watched that work for three months. After getting out of jail, he turned to weaving.
Now with the Satranji mission being wholeheartedly undertaken, he organized a few experienced people with the knowledge of weaving rugs and supplied them with raw materials and a few designs.
When the carpets got ready, he carried them off to different trade fairs in different corners of the country. He initiated Satranji exhibition in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Jessore and many other places.
Karupannya, a member of the BGMEA family, currently employs more than 7,000 workers and employees at its five factories at Lahiri Hat, Podaganj, Pirgacha and Robertsonganj in Rangpur and Ulipur in Kurigram, manufacturing 60 varieties of rugs from recycled garment and textile waste. Huge people also work on raw material supply chain.
In 2002, the Karupannya outlet was launched in Dhaka.
Exported some carpets on a small scale for the promotion of Japan’s Toyota company. The same year, he decided to try his luck in foreign markets and took part in DOMOTEX, world’s largest carpet expo held in Germany. And, that was the turning moment for Karupannya as well as its Satranji.
Another most turning point of Karupannya the Japanese brand IKEA contract to bought their product.
President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mustafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu said, “Officially, Shataranji is being exported to 40 countries of the world. Due to the GSP facility in Shataranji, 60 percent of the export products are going to Europe, 10 percent to America and Russia and 20 percent to China. Currently, 70 percent of handicrafts in the export trade in Bangladesh are Rangpur’s Shataranji.
Financial aspects of Karupannya
Shafiqul Alam Salim started small with five artisans. He took over the project from BSCIC in 1991 and launched Karupannya as a handicraft manufacturing and retail business. Today it manufactures and sells them in more than 55 countries of the world at very affordable prices. Also their number of skilled weavers has grown to 7000.
Starting with exports of 230,000 dollars, foreign sales of handicrafts have increased more than 50 times in the last decade. Mahbubur Rahman, advisor of Rangpur Crafts Limited, said that these artisans can earn 8 to 10 thousand taka per month from home.
The head of the organization says that what we earn do, half of which we invest for the betterment of the organization, the rest for the betterment of our community. The last revenue were $40 million.
Unique Strategy
Agriculture dependent Rangpur has no heavy industries. Satranji has changed the fate of the people of this region. It has created employment for thousands of people. Karupannya aims to establish sustainable employment opportunities and women empowerment in Rangpur region; Contributing to the environment while producing handmade rugs with eco-friendly materials.
Karupana’s vision is to meet standards, save costs and create life with socio-environmental awareness. Moreover, Karupana has a good idea in improving the quality of life of the workers. The unique design of Satranji impresses the customers. Moreover, it has gained acceptance among people in the country and outside the country as it has no adverse effect on the environment. The unique design of Satranji impresses the customers. Moreover, it has gained acceptance among people in the country and outside the country as it has no adverse effect on the environment.
Success Story
President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mustafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu said, “Officially, Shataranji is being exported to 40 countries of the world. Due to the GSP facility in Shataranji, 60 percent of the export products are going to Europe, 10 percent to America and Russia and 20 percent to China. Currently, 70 percent of handicrafts in the export trade in Bangladesh are Rangpur’s Shataranji.
The traditional ‘Shataranji’ of Rangpur has been recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI) product by the Directorate of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (DPDT) of the Ministry of Industry on June 17. BCIC applied to the Directorate of Patents, Designs and Trademarks on July 11, 2019 to register Rangpur’s Shataranji as a GI product. Later, in November 2020, the journal of “Rangpur’s Shataranji” was published in ‘Bangladesh Forms and Publications Office’ and in view of this, DPDT gave Shataranji Geographical Index certificate.
Since 2009, the company has been receiving the gold medal of the National Export Trophy awarded by the Ministry of Commerce every year Those involved in this industry have become more encouraged and excited. They said, the world will now know Rangpur through Shataranji.
On April 23, 2024, in Sweden, IKEA awarded Karupannya Rangpur Ltd. as the Winner in Sustainable Business Development!
Challenges faced by the company
Shafiqul Alam Salim went to start project with shatranji and did not find shatranji, he found 5 craftsmen to make Satranji. For which the beginning was not very easy.
In the face of the aggressive rise of artificial carpets from the 18th and 19th century industries in Britain and many other countries, demand for shatranji declined. Shafiqul Alam Saleem, the think tank and power bank behind this brilliantly entrepreneurial orchestra, always knew that satarnji, made from this part of the world, was once celebrated among Greek, Chinese and European royalty since the dawn of civilization. And it has every possibility of accomplishing the same sensation again, simply, if it is given a fair chance. It was very difficult to export Shataranji across the borders of the country. And it has every possibility of accomplishing the same sensation again, simply, if it is given a fair chance. It was very difficult to export Satranji across the borders of the country.
Future Plan
Rangpur Karupannya Limited is dealing with handicrafts available in Rangpur region. The company wants to work with handicrafts spread all over Bangladesh on a large scale. Introducing them to different countries of the world. Rangpur Karupannya Limited is dealing with handicrafts available in Rangpur region. The company wants to work with handicrafts spread all over Bangladesh on a large scale. Introducing them to different countries of the world.
Motive To export Satranji to 171 countries of the world. Ensure empowerment of women in this sector through participation of backward communities and women. And improving the quality of each product with emphasis on creativity.