Jhenidah, Kushtia

Quilt makers passing busy time ahead of winter

Quilt makers in the district are now busy processing  cotton at the courtyards or on roadside with the onset of winter season.
The owner of Rita Tula-Dhuna Mill in Baparipara in Jhenidah town said: “It’s really a good time for business. We are passing a good time after 9 months,” he said. There are over 2,500 quilt makers in the district, he added.
He said an 8 feet by 5 feet quilt usually needs 6-7 kg of cotton and the total cost, including cotton, cloth, thread, sewing and making charge, stands at Tk 1,000-Tk 1500, which was Tk 800-Tk 1,000 last year.
He said the prices of cotton vary depending on its quality. Shimul (silk) cotton is sold at Tk 170 to Tk 220 per kg. Garments cotton is available at between Tk 35 to Tk 50 per kilogram. The price of a quilt ranges between Tk 800 and Tk 2,500.
Lal Mia, a quilt maker of Voiroba village in Moheshpur upazila, said one can make 5/6 quilts a day and take Tk 200 as charge for each, which was Tk 160 last year. He also saidt for household purpose, people want good quality cotton while the hoteliers choose low quality cotton.
Zaman Rahman, owner of Zaman Cotton shop, said generally two types of quilt makers are seen in Jhenidah – one is regular and the other seasonal. The seasonal makers come from different places and nearby districts. They work on contract basis. The owners prefer seasonal quilt makers as they work fast and finish the work in scheduled time.
Owner of Munsi Cotton shop said alongside the quilt making the makers also do stitching pillows and mattresses. In the six upazilas, including Harinakundo, Kotchandpur, Moheshpur, Kaliganj, Shailkupa and sadar, there are about 400 quilt shops that employ at least 2,500 people. He also said both the rural and town people are crowding the shops to buy new quilts or get the old ones restored.  
 In Kushtia, quilt makers have been passing busy hours at the onset of winter in the district.
The seasonal businessmen have become active in taking the advantage of cold.
According to sources, the temperature in the district has now dropped by 4-5 degrees Celsius to 23-26 degrees in last week. People from many remote villages are seen crowding the shops of quilt in both town and rural areas of the district to purchase new quilts or get the old ones fixed.
Over 1200 quilt makers in the district are now passing busy hours to earn Tk 500-1000 each per day, sources added.
The quilt makers are making different sizes of quilts - small, medium and big -- according to demand of the users.
The shopkeepers of the district are now displaying different kinds of quilts at their shops.
Cotton is selling at Tk 60-Tk 80 per kg compared to last year’s Tk 50-Tk 60. An 8 feet by 5 feet quilt usually needs 6-7 kg of cotton and the total cost including that for cotton, cloth, thread, sewing and making charge stands at Tk 1200-Tk 1500, which was Tk 1000-Tk 1200 last year, quilt makers said.
Nazim, a quilt maker of sadar upazila, said: “I am satisfied with making quilt as I earn Tk 500 a day and I can meet family expenditure.”

Jhenidah, Kushtia

Quilt makers passing busy time ahead of winter

Quilt makers in the district are now busy processing cotton at the courtyards or on roadside with the onset of winter season. The owner of Rita Tula-Dhuna Mill in Baparipara in Jhenidah town said: Its really a good time for business. We are passing a good time after 9 months, he said. There are over 2,500 quilt makers in the district, he added. He said an 8 feet by 5 feet quilt usually needs 6-7 kg of cotton and the total cost, including cotton, cloth, thread, sewing and making charge, stands at Tk 1,000-Tk 1500, which was Tk 800-Tk 1,000 last year. He said the prices of cotton vary depending on its quality. Shimul (silk) cotton is sold at Tk 170 to Tk 220 per kg. Garments cotton is available at between Tk 35 to Tk 50 per kilogram. The price of a quilt ranges between Tk 800 and Tk 2,500. Lal Mia, a quilt maker of Voiroba village in Moheshpur upazila, said one can make 5/6 quilts a day and take Tk 200 as charge for each, which was Tk 160 last year. He also saidt for household purpose, people want good quality cotton while the hoteliers choose low quality cotton. Zaman Rahman, owner of Zaman Cotton shop, said generally two types of quilt makers are seen in Jhenidah one is regular and the other seasonal. The seasonal makers come from different places and nearby districts. They work on contract basis. The owners prefer seasonal quilt makers as they work fast and finish the work in scheduled time. Owner of Munsi Cotton shop said alongside the quilt making the makers also do stitching pillows and mattresses. In the six upazilas, including Harinakundo, Kotchandpur, Moheshpur, Kaliganj, Shailkupa and sadar, there are about 400 quilt shops that employ at least 2,500 people. He also said both the rural and town people are crowding the shops to buy new quilts or get the old ones restored. In Kushtia, quilt makers have been passing busy hours at the onset of winter in the district. The seasonal businessmen have become active in taking the advantage of cold. According to sources, the temperature in the district has now dropped by 4-5 degrees Celsius to 23-26 degrees in last week. People from many remote villages are seen crowding the shops of quilt in both town and rural areas of the district to purchase new quilts or get the old ones fixed. Over 1200 quilt makers in the district are now passing busy hours to earn Tk 500-1000 each per day, sources added. The quilt makers are making different sizes of quilts - small, medium and big -- according to demand of the users. The shopkeepers of the district are now displaying different kinds of quilts at their shops. Cotton is selling at Tk 60-Tk 80 per kg compared to last years Tk 50-Tk 60. An 8 feet by 5 feet quilt usually needs 6-7 kg of cotton and the total cost including that for cotton, cloth, thread, sewing and making charge stands at Tk 1200-Tk 1500, which was Tk 1000-Tk 1200 last year, quilt makers said. Nazim, a quilt maker of sadar upazila, said: I am satisfied with making quilt as I earn Tk 500 a day and I can meet family expenditure.