ABOUT US
Prokritee is a fair trade organization based in Bangladesh, empowering over 1,500 artisans—mostly women—in rural communities. We are committed to sustainability, using renewable and eco-friendly materials such as recycled sari, waste jute, silk, handmade paper, and natural fibers and leaves. Each product reflects care, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for people and the planet.
Visit: https://prorkitee.com
HISTORY
Prokritee was founded in 2001 by the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to manage eight rural job creation projects launched between 1977 and 1999. These projects, now Prokritee’s production units, are located across Bangladesh and continue to support local artisan communities.
Our skilled artisans create handcrafted products using natural, renewable materials—designed in-house and made with care. These items are sold locally and exported worldwide, reflecting our commitment to fair trade, sustainability, and empowerment.
Our Production Units
Sacred Mark Enterprise – Mymensingh
Established in 2009, Sacred Mark provides dignified employment for women who are survivors of abuse, trauma, and extreme poverty—many of whom are former sex workers. Located in Mymensingh, this unit crafts handmade soaps using 100% natural ingredients and creates distinctive accessories and lifestyle products using recycled cotton saris and denim. Every item carries a story of renewal and empowerment.
Hajiganj Handicrafts – Crochet Unit (Saidpur, Nilphamari)
Founded in 2005, this unit supports Bihari families in Saidpur—communities displaced during the 1947 partition and Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. These artisans, who have faced decades of marginalization and limited opportunities, use traditional crochet techniques to produce a range of colorful, handcrafted items such as soft toys, recycled sari blankets, and floral decor. Their work preserves heritage while building hope.
Hajiganj Handicrafts – Basket Unit (Gorogram, Nilphamari)
Located in a remote village on Ashrom Road, this basket unit was founded in 1999 to support families who rely on seasonal, low-paid agricultural labor. Artisans weave durable and eco-friendly baskets using locally sourced materials like kaisa grass, palm leaves, hogla (sea grass), and recycled textiles. Each piece reflects sustainable living and traditional skills.
Bonoful Handmade Paper – Dharagram, Mymensingh Established in 1995, Bonoful is surrounded by lush rice fields and palm trees. This unit meets the international demand for eco-friendly paper products using natural materials such as hemp, wheat straw, pineapple leaves, coconut fiber, recycled paper, and cotton waste from the garment industry. Artisans create birdhouses, journals, greeting cards, lampshades, and stationery with care and creativity.
Biborton Handmade Paper – Kalurpar, Barishal
Founded in 1993 in a flood-prone and economically vulnerable region, Biborton empowers artisans in southern Bangladesh by creating sustainable livelihoods. Handmade paper is crafted from jute, water hyacinth, and silk, and turned into beautifully designed baskets, drawstring bags, Christmas decorations, and paper goods—each product a testament to resilience and resourcefulness.
Shuktara Handmade Paper – Charipur, Feni
Established in 1989, Shuktara is Bangladesh’s very first handmade paper unit. Located in Charipur, Feni, the unit is run by women who stay engaged throughout the day—making pulp, drying paper sheets, and ensuring consistent quality. Shuktara produces a wide range of handmade paper items, incorporating techniques like marbling and embossing. Alongside decorated cards, lampshades, gift boxes, and stationery, the unit also makes bags, purses, and accessories using tribal fabrics, upcycled denim, jute, and leather—creating additional employment opportunities as paper sales fluctuate.
Jobarpar Enterprise – Jobarpar Village, Barishal
Founded in 1984, Jobarpar Enterprise started with rope and twine, eventually expanding into coir products and desiccated coconut powder. Through years of experimentation, the unit successfully transitioned to handmade paper using water hyacinth—a common aquatic weed—and silk. They are also known for mastering the delicate art of quilling, crafting intricate home décor, ornaments, and greeting cards that reflect remarkable attention to detail and creativity.
Bagdha Enterprise – Bagdha, Barishal
Bagdha Enterprise was established in 1982 to create meaningful employment for women with limited work opportunities. The unit focuses on jute and hemp products such as handbags, shopping bags, purses, and floor mats. In 1985, a woodworking component was introduced, enabling women to design and produce charming wooden toys that reflect both skill and imagination.
Keya Palm Handicrafts – Boromogra, Agailjhara
Founded in 1987, this unit specializes in crafting beautiful items from palm and keya leaves. Products include bracelets, earrings, napkin rings, baskets, pencil holders, and a variety of terracotta items like pots and candle holders. Their most loved creations are handcrafted streamers for room décor and Christmas decorations, which are sold worldwide for their festive charm and artisanal beauty.
Torulota Crafts – Nagarbari, Agailjhara
Established in 2001, Torulota Crafts specializes in products crafted from pathi grass, sea grass, bamboo, and hemp twine sourced from Bagdha. This unit produces baskets, bags, and intricate home décor pieces. It also serves as a raw material bank for other production centers in Barishal and features an on-site guesthouse for hosting visitors and buyers.
Prokritee: Empowering Women, Promoting Fair Trade
Prokritee provides meaningful employment to over 1,800 women artisans across Bangladesh. Guided by the vision that every woman in Bangladesh should live with dignity and be recognized as a valuable contributor to society, our mission is to build the social and economic capacity of disadvantaged women by creating productive jobs and sustainable connections to the global market.
Prokritee organizes the DhakaCraft Bazaar, a recurring fair that fosters fair trade by bringing together organizations from across the country. This event offers small and medium enterprises a valuable platform to promote their handcrafted products, connect with like-minded organizations, and reach ethically conscious consumers. Since 2011, we’ve hosted nearly twenty such Bazaars—mainly in Dhaka’s diplomatic zones, where many expats, our key audience, reside. Each fair sees around 50 visitors, with participation from 30 to 35 fair trade organizations.
Prokritee also celebrates International Women’s Day and World Fair Trade Day alongside fellow fair trade groups across Bangladesh.
We are proud to be a WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade organization, Sedex certified, and listed in the Ethical Style Guide by Ambiente (Messe Frankfurt, Germany) as well as People and Planet First. Alongside empowering women artisans, we remain deeply committed to sustainability—using eco-friendly raw materials and promoting the rich heritage of Bangladeshi handicrafts in local and international markets.
Source- a trade fair shop of Prokritee (domestic retail outlet)
Source, Prokritee’s local retail store in Bangladesh, is a platform dedicated to promoting fair trade and environmental sustainability. The store offers a diverse collection of handcrafted, eco-friendly products made by over 1,800 women artisans from across the country—ranging from recycled sari accessories to natural fiber home décor. Committed to ethical production and conscious living, Source highlights the beauty of sustainable materials like jute, handmade paper, bamboo, and upcycled textiles. Its mission is to gain greater domestic support for Prokritee’s artisan communities and raise awareness about the impact of mindful purchasing. When customers buy from Source, they directly contribute to fair wages, dignified work environments, and access to social security benefits for rural women—helping ensure long-term empowerment and security for some of Bangladesh’s most vulnerable communities
Additional Informations:
Prokritee Headquarters: 1/1 Asad Gate, Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207
Trade Lisence: 360/2019-2020