BaSE in Brief.
The BaSE is a social business and a Guaranteed Fair Trade organization based in Bangladesh, established to coordinate and promote the handicraft products of various female manufacturing groups that are often excluded from mainstream markets, especially those working in the South-West. Since 1999, BaSE has been a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Through BaSE, these groups produce various handmade items, including Date/Palm leaf Kaisa & Jute Basketry, Jute Macramé, Crochet & Weaving Bags, Nakshi Hand Embroidery, Fashion, and Accessories.
BaSE is owned by women producer groups and has over 5,000 producers (99% of whom are women) organized into 12 producer groups, offering over 3,000 products.
The producers come from marginalized communities and possess great skill, with the ability to showcase a large variety of their own design items and create customizable designs. BaSE uses local natural raw materials, and all products are 100% natural, biodegradable, and recyclable.
We purchase raw materials directly from farmers or producers and avoid intermediaries or brokers.

H
Our Founder.
BaSE was founded by an Italian Xaverian missionary, Fr. Giovanni Abbiati, who was also known as Fr. John. He witnessed the poverty and difficult living conditions of the villagers, especially the underprivileged women. He wanted to make a positive change but without creating economic dependency through direct financial support. He discovered that the village women were skilled in crafting household decorative items using jute, and decided to offer them an opportunity to develop their traditional skills and prepare these products for the market. He started a specific group in Bhoberpara village to export these goods and devoted his life to improving the livelihood of the disadvantaged handicraft producers.
The BaSE concept was born in 1977 and officially formed in 1999 to coordinate the handicraft activities of various producer groups operating in the South-West part of Bangladesh. United under BaSE, these groups, which were not part of the mainstream, were given the chance to promote their products. BaSE stands for Bangladesh Shilpo Ekota, which translates to United Artisans of Bangladesh.
In 2009, Fr. John passed away in a tragic road accident. After his sudden demise, with the leadership of Shourove Ansari and collaboration with all producers, partners, Xaverian society, Fr. John’s family, and Sondrio Friends, BaSE was reformed and continues on its development journey.

Vision Statements.
We envision economically self-sufficient, socially recognized, culturally empowered, and morally aware, dignified women in Bangladesh.

Mission Statements.
BaSE’s mission is to allow women of Bangladesh weaving their dignity, self-consciousness, and self-sufficiency with their own hands and through craftsmanship, inspired by their traditions and handicraft legacy.

Value & Ethical Guidelines.
Without discrimination for gender, color, caste, and creed, the organization is completely charitable, beneficial, educational, non-political, non-communal, and non-profitable. It intends to be a non-discriminating organization with no regard to nation, color, creed, and gender.

Current Social Objectives.
We focus on producer development through work opportunities, education, health support for families, and capacity building of human resources.
BaSE Producer Groups.
The BaSE consists of different types of members – Direct Groups, Associates Groups, and Occasional.



The specifications are:
- Direct Groups: These groups receive direct support from BaSE in areas such as legal matters, adherence to the 10 WFTO Fair Trade Principles, production management, packaging, and shipments. The direct groups include; Bhoberpara Mohila Hosto Shilpo (BH), Banchte Shekha Handicrafts (BSH), Baniarchor Group (BA), Khalishpur Group (KHC), Rupsha Group (BLU), Mashwar Pasha Group (MHP), Rampal Group (RAM), Bonochaya Mohila Shomity (BC), Rajapur Group (RAJ).
- Associate Groups: These groups have their own management structures and reflect in them a commitment to justice, fair employment, public accountability, progressive working practices, equal gender balance and abolition of child labour. The associates groups are Valerian Handicrafts (SH), Rishilpi Handicrafts (SAT), Charka Handicrafts (CH), Bonochaya Mohila Shomity (BC), Women Training Center (CHA).
- Occasional Groups/Members: This category provides export facilities for mutual organizations. The occasional groups include: ALX and Others.
BaSE’s Reach and Impact: Through this expansive network, BaSE empowers communities and brings sustainable craftsmanship to the world.
- Divisions: BaSE operates across three major divisions in Bangladesh: Khulna, Dhaka, and Barishal.
- Districts: Our efforts span seven districts: Khulna, Jashore, Meherpur, Satkhira, Faridpur, Bagerhat, and Barishal.
- Villages: Over 100 villages within these districts are home to BaSE’s dedicated producers.
- Producers: Around 5,000 producers, organized into 12 groups (direct and associate), contribute to our projects, with numbers adapting to meet annual production demands.
- Team: Our team includes 15 direct staff (7 men and 8 women) and 33 indirect managers and supervisors (21 women and 12 men) who skillfully manage production across the communities.


Group name 1180_8eca9b-1f> | Product category 1180_1ab0d4-d5> | Production specialization 1180_864833-e2> | Materials 1180_f9438c-38> | Location 1180_24d724-05> | Number of producers 1180_cd92c6-21> |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bhoberpara Mohila Hosto Shilpo (BH) 1180_69b206-4a> | Home Decor 1180_c1f3d4-63> | Weaving 1180_ca67e3-6d> | Jute Fiber 1180_81368f-82> | Meherpur 1180_a70137-55> | 143 1180_20c11a-00> |
Banchte Shekha Handicrafts (BSH) 1180_1841cb-95> | Textile, Accessories, Home Decor 1180_894227-88> | Nakshi-Embroidery 1180_7cad04-a9> | Cotton-Silk Recycled Fabric 1180_ddb8db-0e> | Jessore 1180_c2775e-c3> | 206 1180_2a7bc7-1d> |
Baniarchor Group (BA) 1180_acd2b7-b7> | Home Decor 1180_521713-b5> | Weaving 1180_beeb98-ac> | Jute Fibre & Recycled Sari 1180_000f3f-31> | Faridpur 1180_dcb4a3-20> | 45 1180_9e95af-8d> |
Khalishpur Group (KHC) 1180_afba93-06> | Accessories, Wedding & Greetings 1180_e19629-a2> | Nakshi-Embroidery 1180_85916a-0d> | Paper, Cotton Recycled Fabric 1180_60370b-5d> | Khulna 1180_51e501-80> | 104 1180_edcbd8-2b> |
Blue Sisters Group (BLU) 1180_ed1e71-56> | Home Decor & Accessories 1180_b944c7-d9> | Macramé 1180_89b348-84> | Jute Fiber 1180_a3fd5d-79> | Khulna 1180_c31d44-08> | 140 1180_34e103-17> |
Mashwar Pasha Group (MHP) 1180_052eb0-d2> | Home Decor & Basketry 1180_cea5f7-1f> | Weaving, Hand Embroidery 1180_57b5cc-a6> | Date/Palm Leaf Kaisa and Recycled Sari 1180_7d06ef-06> | Khulna & Etc. 1180_516456-b3> | 1,796 1180_2d9758-bc> |
Rampal Group (RAM) 1180_72d150-af> | Home Decor & Accessories 1180_21cc11-b9> | Crochet & Macramé 1180_6c0dbc-b3> | Jute Fibre and Recycled Sari 1180_1c2266-b4> | Bagerhat 1180_c20835-e0> | 30 1180_bbe6ec-45> |
Valerian Handicrafts (SH) 1180_d37d4c-07> | Basketry 1180_5eff40-6c> | Weaving 1180_405de5-e2> | Palm Leaf 1180_f0ae31-16> | Jessore 1180_de9d7d-06> | 405 1180_e32c49-0e> |
Rishilpi Handicrafts (SAT) 1180_eea17a-37> | Basketry 1180_c146f7-bd> | Weaving 1180_698257-16> | Palm Leaf 1180_248944-7e> | Satkhira 1180_5836fe-62> | 916 1180_1787a5-58> |
Charka Handicrafts (CH) 1180_dfd061-3b> | Textile, Accessories, Home Decor 1180_1ebf73-7f> | Nakshi-Embroidery, Appliqué 1180_be43ed-11> | Cotton-Silk Fabric 1180_dc3ac6-59> | Jessore 1180_9616ee-d6> | 680 1180_b7d1bb-a0> |
Bonochaya Mohila Shomity (BC) 1180_0e42f7-c0> | Basketry 1180_240dd6-80> | Weaving 1180_8cb20f-04> | Palm Leaf 1180_47862f-51> | Khulna 1180_8de0e0-ef> | 360 1180_4c77f4-89> |
Rajapur Group (RAJ) 1180_3f1a1b-c6> | Jute Mats 1180_b83dc9-4e> | Hand Weaving 1180_d2a8e3-40> | Jute 1180_2b632a-42> | Barishal 1180_dedf29-64> | 175 1180_5f0209-f4> |
BaSE Leadership Organogram.

BaSE Activities Map.

BaSE Committee:
Chairperson: Mr. Ashok Sarkar, Social Worker
Vice-chairperson: Ms. Shondha Mondol, Representative BH Group
Secretary: Ms. Lily Serena Biswas, Representative BSH Group
Office Secretary: Ms. Dulali Biswas, Representative KHC Group
Treasurer: Ms. Roza Biswas, Representative SH Group
Member: Ms. Monica Mondol, Representative BLU Group
Member: Ms. Shagorika Mondol, Representative SAT Group
BaSE Consultants:
Design: Ms. Rossana Vittani
SEO: Mr. Md Nurul Islam
Volunteer Support: Mr. Sheek Shah Mosiur Rahoman
BaSE Advisors:
Advisor: Fr. Valoti Lorenzo, Representative Xaverian Missionary
Advisor: Ms. Angela Gomes, Representative National NGO
Advisor: Mr. Benedetto Abbiati, Representative Buyer/Partner/Friends
BaSE Management Team:
Coordinating Director: Mr. Shourove Ansari
Finance and Logistic Coordinator: Mr. Theophil Sardar
Manager – Production & Quality Control: Ms. Hira Gosh
Supervisor – Training & Compliances: Ms. Suborna Akter
Office Assistant: Mr. Niloy Das
Testimonials
What our customers & partners say about us.