Bangladesh, March 18 -- As Eid approaches, a time when the area is usually bustling with activity, Ishwardi's traditional Benarasi Palli remains unusually quiet this year.

This century-old handloom industry is now facing an existential crisis.

The market has been largely dominated by Indian sarees, leaving local artisans with insufficient work.

A visit to the area reveals that the history of Ishwardi's Benarasi Palli dates back more than a hundred years.

During the British period, artisans from India settled here and gradually built a thriving weaving community, producing fine Katan and Benarasi sarees with skilled craftsmanship.

In 2004, the Bangladesh Handloom Board established the country's second-largest Benarasi Palli in the Fat...