Topi makers in Panchagarh pass busy time ahead of Eid

FE Team | Published: July 28, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

PANCHAGARH, July 27 (UNB): Topi (prayer cap) manufacturers at Mathaphata village in Tentulia upazila are passing a very busy time as the demand for the item has increased significantly ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
During a visit to the village, our Pnachagarh correspond found Topi makers working round the clock to meet its demand on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the greatest religious festival for the Muslims.
Topi makers said they are giving importance on producing topis of trendy and new designs to draw attention of buyers.
Asked about the history of topi production at the village, locals said Abdul Hannan, a lecturer at a local degree madrasa, and his friend Abdur Razzak, a tailor by profession, purchased different equipments in 1993 with the curiosity of producing topis.
Having prepared 100 topis, the duo took those to the capital for sale.
Getting good response from traders of different markets in the capital, the two friends planned for commercial production of prayer caps.
In 1994, they set up a topi factory named Al-khaiyat Cap Industry at Mathaphata village.
Afterwards, some 10 to 12 other topi factories sprang up at the village.
The topis produced in the factories are not only meeting the local demand but they are also being exported to different Middle East countries, Indonesia, Tazakistan and Pakistan.
Talking to this correspondent, Abdul Hannan who pioneered topi production in Tentulia said topi is manufactured all the year-round at the factories and the demand for the item increases with the beginning of Ramadan.
He said the sale of caps sees a rise during Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha, two biggest festivals for Muslims.
Hannan also noted that the industry has created employment opportunity for hundreds of unemployed men and women.
Abdul Hannan said they have buy clothes, threads, needles and different parts of the sewing machine used in producing topi from Dhaka which increases the production cost.
About 100 workers including female ones work at Al-Khaiyat Cap Industry, he said, adding that 200 to 300 topis are now being manufactured a day in the factory.
Production cost for each topi stands at Tk 80-150.
Describing the problems the industry is facing, he said China has established it dominance over the International cap market which Bangladesh occupied earlier.
He said owners of cap factories can not make profit as price of the item is not increasing in tandem with the production cost.
Harunur Rashid, owner of Al Iqra topi industry, another factory at the locality, said though prices of raw materials are increasing, topis are selling at the previous rate.