Thanapara Village
Turning Nature’s Discards into Global Details
Charghat, Rajshahi
Shell Cutting
Machine Finishing
NGO Training Workshop
Export Packaging
In Charghat’s Thanapara village, a quiet revolution is underway—powered by discarded coconut shells. Introduced by Raihan Ali over 35 years ago, this small-scale industry now supports 300 families, mostly women.
With training from the Thanapara Swallows Development Society, villagers turn coconut shells into polished, eco-friendly buttons. These buttons are distributed through NGO networks and find their way to markets across the country—and even abroad.
This green micro-industry offers a sustainable livelihood in a village still rooted in agriculture and modest living. Yet, with proper support, it could scale even higher.
Eco-Craft
Utilizes waste materials for global utility
Women Empowerment
Most button-makers are women
NGO Supported
Skills training and marketing through local development society
Export Potential
High demand for organic, handmade accessories
Village Life in Motion
Cultural
Heritage & Traditions
Coconut shell buttons may be small, but they carry the weight of innovation, empowerment, and sustainability. Thanapara’s women have turned a humble material into an engine of opportunity—showcasing how local industries can thrive with a little creativity and care.
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