Sirajganj gamchha

The story

Few things are as ordinary in Bangladesh as the gamchha. Farmers wrap it round the head against the sun, rickshaw pullers wipe their faces with it, and almost every household dries itself with one after a bath. It is a rectangle of loosely woven cotton, usually in red, green, blue or orange checks with a plain or striped border, light enough to dry within an hour and cheap enough to replace often.

Sirajganj, on the west bank of the Jamuna, became one of the country's great handloom districts after weaving families settled along the river in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Belkuchi, Shahjadpur, Ullapara, Enayetpur and Kamarkhand are full of looms, and the Shahjadpur and Sohagpur cloth haats are among the biggest handloom wholesale markets in Bangladesh. Gamchhas from Ullapara and Belkuchi have long been prized. In April 2025 Sirajganj gamchha received GI registration certificate number 36.

Gamchha weaving is not limited to Sirajganj. Narsingdi, whose Baburhat is a huge wholesale cloth market, produces and trades large volumes; Kumarkhali in Kushtia has a long weaving tradition and its handloom gamchhas have a good name; and the Bera and Santhia areas of Pabna share the Jamuna-side weaving culture of Sirajganj. Today much of the production in all these districts has moved from handlooms to power looms.

How to spot the real Sirajganj gamchha

A good handloom gamchha is soft from the first use, thin but evenly woven, and absorbs water quickly. Hold it to the light: the weave of a handloom piece is open and slightly irregular, with small variations in the checks, while power-loom gamchhas look perfectly even and are often denser and stiffer. Check the ends: a hand-woven gamchha usually has a short fringe or a simple folded hem, and the selvedges are not machine-perfect. Rub a damp corner on white cloth to test the dye, and pull gently along the diagonal to see whether the cloth distorts; a loose, poorly beaten weave will thin quickly. Synthetic blends feel slippery and do not absorb well, so a quick wet test shows them up at once.

Buying tips

Price depends on cotton quality and yarn count, size, handloom versus power loom, and whether it comes in a set. Ask the seller where the gamchhas were woven, whether they are handloom, and the exact size in inches, since sizes vary widely. Gamchhas are often sold in packs, which suits gifting and household stock.

Every Midmart shop sets its own delivery charge, so try to buy all your gamchhas, lungis and bedsheets from one shop if it carries them; three shops mean three charges. Midmart never takes payment and never delivers; you and the seller settle both directly. For bulk orders, agree the count, sizes, colours and delivery time in writing before paying.

Keeping it fresh

Wash a new gamchha on its own once or twice, as the dyes often run at first; a pinch of salt in the first rinse is a common household trick. Use cold or lukewarm water and ordinary soap, and avoid bleach on coloured checks. Dry in the shade or light sun, as harsh sun fades the colours over time. Make sure gamchhas are completely dry before folding, since damp cotton smells and mildews quickly in humid weather.

Find Sirajganj gamchha on Midmart

Search Midmart for “gamchha”

Shops from where it is made

No shop from Narsingdi, Pabna, Sirajganj, Kushtia is on Midmart yet.

Questions about Sirajganj gamchha

More famous products

• Sirajganj handloom lungi
• Cumilla khadi
• Dhakai muslin
• Jamalpur nakshi kantha
• Jamdani saree
• Manipuri saree and shawl (Sylhet)