Four students from the University of Rajshahi are giving a traditional craft a modern twist by turning Shital Pati, the traditional cool mat, into handwoven sandals.

Apurba Krishna Dey, Abir Dey, Md Ashik Mia and Chowdhury Khubaib Bin Karim are behind the initiative.

Apurba grew up in a village in Tangail, where he became familiar with murta, the reed traditionally used to weave Shital Pati. As a child, he watched local artisans make the mats up close.

Over time, the use of Shital Pati declined, affecting the income of artisans who depended on the craft. Apurba saw an opportunity to create a new market for the material by turning it into everyday products rather than limiting its use to traditional mats.

That idea led to Bunon Bazar, a venture founded by four students at the University of Rajshahi. Apurba, a Banking and Insurance student, teamed up with Abir, Ashik and Khubaib, all from the university’s Institute of Business Administration. Together, they began developing Shital Pati sandals.

The idea started small. The team pitched the concept in several competitions, while their university studies also helped shape the venture. As part of their Entrepreneurship Development course, they worked on Bunon Bazar as a real-world project.

A major boost came when the team received Tk 100,000 in funding from the Green Voice Master Bootcamp, supported by The Earth Society and the Netherlands Embassy. The funding helped them begin producing the sandals.

But turning Shital Pati into footwear was not easy. The team experimented with different sizes, shapes and designs to make the sandals comfortable while preserving the material’s natural weave and texture.

“Most of our time went into getting the size, shape and design exactly right,” Khubaib said. “Our first sandal wasn’t the final one. We kept testing and improving it based on feedback. Slowly, we reached the design we use today.”

The sandals are currently priced at Tk 650.

The team has tested Bunon Bazar through several competitions. The venture became first runner-up in the University of Rajshahi’s Hult Prize competition and reached the top eight in a competition organised by the Dhaka University Entrepreneurship Development Club.

The four members also received internship opportunities sponsored by Akij Resources. Bunon Bazar was also showcased at the Bangladesh Innovation Fair, where it received positive feedback.

The team now plans to expand beyond sandals. They hope to make bags, home décor items and other products from Shital Pati. In the future, they also want to train more artisans and build a larger production network.