The traditional proverb ‘Tatei kapor, tatei bhaat’ with modification as ‘Tatei gauge bandage, tatei bhaat’ bears no surprise as this has become the reality for the people at the gauze bandage factories at Kaliganj upazila in Satkhira.
At these factories, high quality gauze bandages are produced which are marketed all over the country including the capital city, Khulna and Chattogram.
Approaching to Nalta Sharif area of Nalta union, one can hear rat-tat sound. Not one or two, but almost every house buzz with this unique rhythm as every home has a modern electric ‘power loom’. One person operate two or three power looms at a time. Someone makes yarn. Even 14 years ago, the artisans used to weave saris, towels and lungi. But now everyone is making gauge bandages for earning livelihood.
Elias karigor, a inhabitant of the locality familiar with handloom has been weaving at home for last 18 years with all his heart. He said, his father and grandfathers used to weave to make sari, towel and lungi. “I also learned to work. I am making saris, towels and lungi for about eight years. But it was not possible to continue. Everyone in the area has moved to gauge bandage work.” Elias said.
When asked if there was any problem in making saris, towels, lungi, he said, “Now that color and threads does not come. The colors fade and does not last. So everyone is leaning towards gauge bandages.” Now the merchants bring threads from Narayanganj and give it to them. They just make and get paid accordingly.
Sharif Khan, a 10th grade student, came to this profession as he belongs to a handloom family. He told Bangladesh News that, “The merchants bring threads and we just work. The machine is ours too. We earn 18 taka per 36 hand gauge bandage. Three machines can run alone. Each machine has 6/7 bandage per day.”
Shawkat karigar of this area said, “Now weaving loom has become rare, each machine (power loom) costs 24 thousand taka. I bought it and started working, three machines helps us to earn an average of 300 taka a day.” Mentioning that the income would have been higher earlier, he said that now he gets only 18 taka by making a 36 hand long bandage. But the price of the sari produced in it was higher. Although now production is higher, hardship is less. They just have to take care of the machine. Shawkat’s wife Latifa works with him. More than five hundred couples like Shawkat karigar and Latifa are involved in making modern gauge bandages as there is less trouble with the machine. Everyone in the family works together in the power loom.
Yasin karigar was saying a very positive thing. Unemployed boys in the area now work in the power loom, he said. “Not only a lot of income. There is no problem in this work. However, there is no problem in the modern power loom. If there is no electricity, the work of making gauze bandage in Nalta Sharif area comes to a halt”.
Shyam Chandra Pal, known as a merchant in the area, said his factory has 25 power looms. 8/9 workers work regularly. He brought threads from Narayanganj and supplied it to almost every family. At the same time work is going on in his factory too.
He said he pays 18 taka for each piece bandage. Then the bandages are being washed and disinfected and sent to Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong and other parts of the country. We get two or three taka for the price of thread.
“But if the government takes goods directly from us, then we will also survive, small artisans will also get higher wages. The government does not take goods directly from us. We give it to big companies. They give it to the government. We are underprivileged.” He drew the attention of the concerned authorities in this regard.
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