Livelihood on 'taga' selling

Seventy-year-old Abdur Rashid Hawlader comes out of his Chalisha village home in Pirojpur Sadar upazila everyday with a bundle of thick black thread locally known as 'taga', which is generally tied around the waist for getting relief from pain. 

He then goes to different areas of Pirojpur town and sells those, claiming that they will remove pain of waist, ankle or elbow. 

Rashid also claimed that he has a spiritual power, which he uses before giving the thread to his customers.

“I got the power in my dream and use it to help people,” Rashid said. 

Rashid, father of four sons and two daughters, said “My sons are not that solvent to provide me extra money after meeting their family expenses.” 

Rashid said he earns at least Tk 150 everyday from selling the thread.

Tapan Datta, who is currently living in Pirojpur for job purpose, said he earlier bought a taga from Rashid for one of his relatives suffering from pain for long. 

“Today I bought a taga for my wife, who is suffering from pain in her hand,” Tapan said while paying Rashid Tk 20. 

When someone says he was benefited using his thread he felt happy to serve people, Rashid said.

Trader Omar Ali of Pirojpur town said he has been seeing Rashid selling the tage for the last couple of years. 

“I have seen both men and women collecting the thread from him, but don't know if it works or not,” Omar said.