Aarong Banani

In 1976, when BRAC– the world’s largest development organisation – engaged a small number of rural women to produce crafts, their only buyers were a few scattered retailers in Dhaka. Weeks, even months would pass between supply and payment, until BRAC intervened and established Aarong to pay the rural women for their goods on time.

Aarong started its journey in 1978 with a mission to support the rural artisans of Bangladesh. Since then, it has been providing a workplace for the rural women involved in crafting. At present, it supports around 65,000 artisans.

In 1976, BRAC motivated a few rural women to make crafts. But it was then impossible to find buyers who would pay well. Later, BRAC set up Aarong with a view to helping the rural women get paid on time for their crafts.

Now, Aarong has become a trustworthy brand for its community, serving the rural artisans to fight against poverty and to achieve a healthy lifestyle.