Small jobs comfort thousands in north

Weavers work at a factory in Adamdighi upazila in Bogra. Small entrepreneurs in the northern districts of Bogra, Joypurhat and Naogaon have created jobs for more than 100,000 people. Photo: Hasibur Rahman Bilu

Small entrepreneurs in 11 upazilas under Bogra, Joypurhat and Naogaon districts in the north have created jobs for over one lakh underprivileged people including around 25,000 women.
The businessmen are engaged in producing thread, low-cost blankets, bed sheets, towel, scarf, warm clothes and other cotton products to meet the demand of the country and export to India.
The business has grown centring a village market at Shawail village under Adamdighi upazila of Bogra -- Shawail Suta Bazar, which has been running for the last 150 years without any government support.
Md Uzzal Hossain, president of the thread businessmen's committee of the market, said the annual turnover of the market is around Tk 375 crore.
The turnover is likely to go up this year due to an increase in demand, he added.
"Although a huge transaction takes place at the market, there is not any bank branch here," complained Uzzal.
Incidence of fire, snatching and other offences is frequent, but there is no police or fire station in the market area, he said.
“I have sent several request letters to the authorities concerned to set up fire station and police box here, but they are yet to respond,” said Uzzal.
Local Nasharatpur Union Parishad Chairman Md Shamsul Haque said he has been trying for the last 12 years to help set up a bank branch there, but he failed to convince any bank.
“I have also been trying for the last 4 years to set up a fire station in the market area, but in vain,” he said.
Uzzal Hossain said thousands of men and women are engaged with weaving works mainly in Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat district, Raninagar, Atrai and Naogaon Sadar upazilas of Naogaon district and Adamdighi, Kahalu and Dupchanchia upazilas of Bogra district.
The local entrepreneurs have set up more than 1,200 shops of warm and other clothes as well as fabrics at the market, where business volume stands at around Tk 10 crore on each Sunday and Wednesday -- the two hectic weekly market days.
“I have been running my four-member family for the last ten years working at this market after the death of my husband,” said Muslima of Adamdighi upazila, who earns Tk 1,500 per month working in a handloom.
“I bear the expenses of my college-going son and others,” she said.
Muslima is among the many struggling but surviving on the income from the market.