Blankets made from garment rags becoming popular for cheap prices

BOGURA, Jan 30: Blankets being made from garment rags are becoming popular their cheap prices in Bogura and Sirajganj.

Manufacturers of the item are eying a turnover of Tkone billion (100 crore) in the two districts this winter, industry insiders said.

Sources said many poor people of 40 villages in Kazipur upazila of Sirajganj and Adamdighi upazila of Bogura are engaged in making blankets to bring their economic solvency.

Waste of different garment factories is used for making blankets which are popular with the poor and ultra poor people due to their cheap prices.

Local sources said there are about 50,000 blanket makers, most of them women, who produce blankets and dresses of children with the garment waste collected from Mirpur, Savar, Tongi, Konabari and Chattogram.

Traders supply the blankets to different districts across the country. A blanket is sold between Tk 200 and Tk 700 based on quality, they added.

The poor-and low-income people buy the blankets to protect themselves from the biting cold.

During a visit, this correspondent found that small and medium blanket-making factories have been set up at different villages and local bazaars, including Shimuldair, Borshibhanga, Satkoya, Shyampur, Salabhora, Kunkunia, Paikortoli, Dhekuria, Boroitola, Muslimpara, Manikpotol, Garber, Roshikpur, Harinathpur, Bhavanipur, Mathailchapor, Rowhabari, Polashpur, Beelchitol, Lakshmipur, Chakpara, Kobihar, Chalitadanga and Hatshira in Kazipur upazila.

Many women of the villages are earning additional money besides their household work, locals said.

"My rickshaw-puller husband could not earn sufficient money for our family's daily needs and meals. We were leading miserable life along with our two children," said Kohinur Begum who lost her homestead due to the devastating soil erosion in the Jamuna river few years ago.

Kohinur Begum, 35, wife of Delwar Hossain of Chalitadanga village in Kazipur, said, "We took shelter on the flood protection embankment and started struggling to survive. But it was very tough to carry our household with the poor earning of my husband."

"Being inspired by a relative, I've started making blanket with waste garments after buying a sewing machine. Then, I collect garment waste from local markets in Kazipur, produce blankets and sell them at different markets. Within a few months, I was able to pay all the borrowed money."

"With the earnings from the blankets, I've already purchased four decimals of land in the same village and built a new house. Now, we are happy with this work," she added.

Razia Pervin, 38, of Shawoil village in Adamdighi said, "I was struggling hard to maintain our living as my physically-challenged husband was unable to earn money. So, I've started making blankets on the suggestions from my neighbours. Now, I earn Tk 300- 400 every day by producing 3 to 4 blankets."

Like Kohinur and Razia, many people -- most of them youths and females in the villages of two neighbouring districts -- have turned around by making blankets with the waste clothes, locally known as 'jhut'.

Bulbul Chowdhury, a trader of Chalitadanga Bazaar in Kazipur of Sirajganj, said, "Providing sewing machines as gift for the girls of underprivileged families during their marriage has become a fashion in the localities."

"They (girls) can earn money to meet the demand for their livings. At one stage, the machines help them turn the wheels of their life."

"There is no beggar in our villages. All of the people in our villages have changed their lot by working, especially making blankets for the whole year," he added.

Shariful Islam, president of the Blanket Makers Association, said, "Traders of those areas have targeted to sell around 6 million of blankets this winter season, expecting a business of Tk one billion (100 crore)."

Hazi Abdus Sattar, director at the Sirajganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, "There is a need to provide low-interest loan to new entrepreneurs with a view to expanding the blanket industry in the area."

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