Brisk business in quilt

Quilt makers in Sylhet are busy from morning till midnight as the demand for quilts has increased amid fall in temperature.

People are crowding the shops of quilt makers in the towns and rural areas in the district to buy new quilts or get old ones repaired.

Md Moniruzzaman, owner of a quilt shop in Taltola area in the city said, “It is really a good time for business. We are passing busy days after nine months.” There are over 600 quilt makers in the district, including the city, he added.

An 8-foot by 5-foot quilt usually needs six to seven kg of cotton and the cost, including cotton, cloth, thread, sewing and making charge, is Tk 1,200 to Tk 1,500, which was Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 last year, quilt makers said.

They said the price of cotton varies, depending on its quality. Shimul cotton is sold at Tk 170 to Tk 300 per kg. Garments cotton is available between Tk 85 and Tk 100 per kg.

Lal Mia, a quilt maker of Guainghat upazila town, said a worker can make five to six quilts a day and earn Tk 200 for each, which was Tk 160 last year. He also said people want good quality cotton for household purpose, while hoteliers choose low quality cotton.

Md Shahidur Rahman of Kodomtoly Market in Sylhet city said the busiest time is from December to February, when he can make 500 to 600 quilts.

"We are taking Tk 200 as making charge for each quilt. Only in winter season we can earn money for the rest of the year, but it does not bring any change in our lot," quilt maker Monsur Helal said.

Sobhan Hossain of Sadar upazila said, "I am happy making quilts as I earn Tk 500 per day, which helps me to meet my expenses.”

Faruq Hossain of Fenchuganj upazila said the elite of the district are fond of high quality cotton quilts, which cost around Tk 2,500 to Tk 3,000 each, but high quality cotton, costing Tk 300 to Tk 350 per kg, is not that much available in the local market.

" A worker can make five to six quilts a day and take Tk 200 as making charge, which was Tk 170 last year," said Nazrul Islam, convener of Sylhet district quilt combers' group, adding that insolvent people usually buy quilts made of low quality cotton, which is made of discarded garments products.