History:
Silk
was first discovered in China about 5000 years back.
As such China is called the "Birth place"
of silk. At that time Ho Yang Ti was the Emperor of
China. It is said that Emperor's 14 years aged Princess,
one day taking tea in the orchard within the Palace.
At that moment a silk cocoon was fallen in her cup.
When she was trying to pick up that unknown thing she
found that a delicate fibre had been coming out of it.
The incident was thought to be the gift of God by the
members of the Palace. The matter was kept secret within
the four- walls of the palace for a long 2000 years.
The
technique of silk-culture was migrated beyond the boundary
of China after a long time. It was also a very interesting
story. It is said that, in ancient time the Prince of
Tibet married a Princess of China. After married the
Princess carried eggs of silkworm and seeds of mulberry
plant within her headdress.
In
140 B.C silk spread from Tibet to Sub- Himalayan region
of India. Afterwards, it spread different parts of India.
In ancient time Arabian merchants used to export silk
goods through 'Silk Road'. It was the longest land rout
that extended from China to Greece of 10 thousand Kilometers.
Silk
was introduced in Europe in 550 A.D. At that time, two
Saints carried the technique of silk-culture from China
to Constantinople. In 12th century, silk was introduced
in Italy. From there it slowly expanded to France and
Spain in 13th Century. In 4th Century, it was smuggled
to Japan secretly. In1872, silk industry was considered
the main industry in Japan. Afterwards, silk production
was declined in Japan because of high labor cost, cultivable
land pressure and industrialization. Recently a major
thrush has been given in Russia and Brazil for more
silk production.
In16th
and 17th century during the Mughal regime there was
abundant silk production in India. In Nawab regime there
was tremendous progress of silk production in the undivided
Bengal. In 1914, during the then British regime a separate
department was established for silk development. In
1934, a Tariff Board was formed which made a good number
of recommendations for the protection of the silk industry.
Sericulture
in Bangladesh has a long history and glory. It inherits
the same tradition of India. In 1947, after the partition
of India two sericulture nurseries situated in Mirgonj
(Rajshahi) and Bogra and some silk growing areas of
Bholahat (Chapai-Nawabgonj) and Mirgonj were fallen
in the part of the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
Afterwards a massive sericulture development programme
had been under taken. Under that programme 10 sericulture
nurseries, one silk pilot project & silk-cum-lac
research & training institute at Rajshahi was established
in the country. In 1971 Bangladesh emerged as an independent
country. From 1947 to 1977 Sericulture activities were
looked after by organisations like Directorate of Industries
and BSCIC. With a view to expand sericulture throughout
the country a separate organization "Bangladesh
Sericulture Board (BSB)" started functioning from
February, 1978 with its Headquarters at Rajshahi - the
Silk City.
|
