In Narail, a small district in southwestern Bangladesh, Parveen Akhter wakes up early to collect banana stems from nearby orchards. After cleaning and processing them, she extracts a silky fiber from the thick trunks — material that would otherwise go to waste. She and her team then sell this fiber to export buyers for 500 to 600 takas per kilogram, turning agricultural leftovers into steady income.
Bananas are everywhere in Bangladesh. They make up 20% of all fruit crops grown in the country, covering 54,756 hectares of farmland. After harvest, farmers traditionally throw away the thick stems — but those stems are packed with usable fiber. A 2024 study found that Bangladesh could produce around 37,800 tons of banana fiber every year and generate more than $94 million in export earnings if the industry grows as planned. Right now, the country only earns about $1.5 million annually from banana fiber exports, meaning there is enormous room for expansion.
"If they can do it, we Bangladeshis can do it too," said Md Hafijul Islam, owner of New Bhai Bhai Engineering Workshop in Gazipur, near the capital Dhaka. Hafijul began collecting banana fiber in 2016 and started building his own processing machines in 2021. His factory employs 20 to 25 people making baskets, flower vases, and other handicrafts that are sold in popular tourist spots like Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and Kuakata. Hafijul also supports a network of more than 1,000 women who braid fiber at home in their spare time, earning extra money for their families. The factory collects fiber from 250 entrepreneurs across the country and exports it to China.
The banana fiber business has a built-in advantage over jute, another major Bangladeshi export. While jute must be grown specifically for fiber, banana fiber comes from agricultural waste — the stems left behind after the fruit is picked. And despite coming from waste, banana fiber sells for more than double the price of jute. In local markets, it fetches 150 to 500 takas per kilogram, roughly $1.20 to $4 for 2.2 pounds. Inner banana fibers are even prized for being surprisingly strong, flexible, and soft like silk.
Artisans use the fiber to weave the celebrated Kolaboti saree, along with curtains, mats, bags, ropes, and decorative items. Yet challenges remain. The manually operated machines many entrepreneurs currently use often produce lower-quality fiber, which limits how much they can charge. Modernizing equipment could help producers move up the value chain, making higher-quality products and earning higher prices.
Still, the momentum is building. With thousands of entrepreneurs already participating, an expanding network of women earning home-based income, and growing interest from international buyers, banana fiber is becoming a quiet success story — one banana stem at a time.