Tangail flower sweeper's fortunes change, business of 3 crore rupees per month

Potal village of Kalihati in Tangail is economically strengthened by making flower brooms. Where there is a trade of 3 crore rupees per month. Many have changed their fortunes by selling brooms.

Broom trader of Durgapur village of Kalihati, Tangail. Noor Uddin 8 years ago Pahari Ulu started making brooms with flowers. In addition to changing his own fortune, he created employment opportunities for others.
Nur Uddin said, 'I have been doing this for 8 years. About 15 to 20 people worked with my family and relatives. But there is no work like before.'

Almost every house in the village has small and big factories. Where the work of making brooms starts every morning after the sun rises. 10,000 people have been given employment opportunities in this village based on broom industry. The economic picture of the area has changed due to this industry.

The workers said, 'We have been working here for about 7 years. Earlier I used to get less salary but now I get 20 to 22 thousand taka. The women fit the broom and the children twist the tape.'

However, the factory owners claim that the progress of the cottage industry is threatened due to various crises including the increase in the price of ulu flowers, transportation problems. He said, 'Ulu flowers we collect from Khagrachari, Rangamati, Kaptai, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar.
The cost is much higher than before. We are harassed on the roads even though we bring goods by paying tax to the government. Used to sell well. Because there were less traders. Now it is very difficult to raise businessmen.'
There is a huge demand for these brooms in the wholesale market all over the country including Dhaka. The wholesale price of each broom is Tk 35 to Tk 70. It has a turnover of Rs 3 crore per month.

Adviser of Patal Broom Traders Association. Nazrul Islam said, 'The transportation cost of the product is too high which is not worth mentioning. A car costs 60 to 70 thousand rupees. In total, about 10,000 jobs are here.'

Last year, the trade from the sale of brooms in the district was about 35-40 crores.