The bamboo industry is booming

Many involved in the bamboo industry are leaving their ancestral profession. They choose to work as daily labourers.

Traditional bamboo crafting is going on in Sundarganj of Gaibandha. Those who are still involved in the bamboo industry from generation to generation are no longer able to make a living from bamboo work. The reason for the destruction of this industry is the increase in the price of bamboo and the increase in the use of plastic materials. Many involved in the bamboo industry are leaving their ancestral profession. They choose to work as daily labourers. Many are driving battery operated autorickshaws. They complain that the government has no initiative to sustain this industry.

Sumi Rani Das (52) of Daspara village of Sundarganj, who is involved in this industry, said that they used to make baskets, chaluns and kula from bamboo. They have no training for this job. Learned work from parents. This business was going well. Now the price of bamboo is high. No other work is known. So hereditary business survives. Income is not going with it. As a result, they are forced to work in other people's homes. A boy left this profession and drives an autorickshaw.

According to a source of Gaibandha BCIC, more than two hundred families are still involved in the bamboo industry in Sundarganj upazila. In recent times, the use of plastic materials has increased in the country. As a result, the traditional bamboo industry is gradually disappearing. The business of those who are still making bamboo products as an ancestral profession is also booming.

Most of the people who are still working bamboo in this upazila live in Daspara of the municipality and Patnipara of the neighboring Tarapur Union. Last Thursday, after visiting the two villages, it was found that bamboo work is going on in many houses. Roadside, yard and yard work is in progress. Some are cutting bamboo, some are making dal, kula, sieve. Among them, the number of women is more. The husband, wife and children of the family are all doing bamboo work.

People involved in this industry said that they go to different markets and villages in the upazila to buy bamboo. In the current market, each bamboo is selling for Tk 400-450. These bamboos are used to make sieves, sieves, pulses, fishing poles, poultry cages, mats and mats. These bamboo products are being sold in the local market. In the local market, each colander costs Tk 70-80, each sieve Tk 60-70, each branch Tk 150-200, each fishing pole Tk 250-300, each chicken cage Tk 250-300 and each five feet wide and seven feet. Long mats are being sold for 200 to 250 taka.

Gautam Chandra Das (56) of Daspara village said that business is not going on as before. Day by day, bamboo is being cut in villages and crop lands and homesteads are being built. As a result, the number of bamboo plantations has decreased. Apart from this, the price of plastic products available at low prices in the market has increased. On the other hand, the price of bamboo has increased. A year ago, the price of each bamboo was Tk 220 to Tk 250. In the current market, each bamboo is selling for Tk 400-450. Buying bamboo at higher prices and selling bamboo products at higher prices. As the price of plastic products is low, the price of bamboo products has increased. As a result, there are no buyers. Now running a family has become difficult.

Gaurang Das (56) of the same village said that earlier he used to run a family of four with the income he earned from bamboo work. But increasing the price of bamboo, the business is not going well. So he left this profession and is working as a day laborer. Santvana Rani (50) of that area said that her husband used to work in bamboo. Having to eat hard to provide the expenses of the family. So he left this job and is working as a day laborer.

Dilip Chandra (41) of Patnipara village said that he did not get a job due to lack of educational qualification. Forced to choose his father's profession at the age of 15. He started making Dali, Kula, Chala etc. with bamboo. Dilip Chandra said, buy bamboo from Hatbazar. He made all the things at home. His wife and children help him in his work. Earlier I used to earn 11-13 thousand taka per month excluding expenses. But nowadays the use of plastic materials has increased. As a result, there has been a recession in this business.

In this context, Gaibandha BC Assistant General Manager (AGM) Rabindranath Roy told Prothom Alo that various initiatives have been taken to sustain this industry. People are encouraged to buy bamboo products. Initiatives are being taken to market these products. Those involved in the bamboo industry will be given loans if they want.

Upazila Youth Development Officer Zafar Ahmed said that the youth who are making bamboo products will be trained in stages. They will be given low interest loans.