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Quilt makers out in search of winter orders


Published : 12 Nov 2021 09:57 PM

People locally known as ‘Dhunkar’ belong to a professional group of people who earn their living by making quilts, pillows and mattresses with cotton and sheets of clothes.

Nearly fifty Dhunkar have arrived in Rajshahi from the village Tokna under Monakosha union of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district this year. 

All of them, riding on a bicycle with a heavy load of cotton and some indigenous instrument of making quilt, traversed some 70-kilometre of way to reach Rajshahi city areas this season. 

During this time of the season, there is a crisis of work in villages and these Dhunkar visit houses of various city and rural areas for making quilts, pillows etc. during the entire winter season. 

During some three and a half months of winter, all these Dhunkars live in several rented houses in different areas of the Rajshahi city including Mollapara area.

On Wednesday (Nov-3) early morning, some Dhunkars were seen waiting at Charkhuta crossing of the city. They informed, they were all residents of the same village. 

They start early in the morning in search of work, visit various areas, even in upazilas and make and repair quilts, pillows and mattresses according to the needs of any family, they added.

Dhunkar Jahangir informed, he has been working as Dhunkar or quilt maker for the last 20-year. He arrived in Rajshahi with his younger uncles while he was a student of class-VI but now he comes every year here with some 40 to 45 dhunkars of his village. 

He further said, most of the dhunkars are also related to one another. They also live in Rajshahi at the same area but in the morning they start in search of work in a group of four to five. 

Like Jahangir, Naim, Dukhu, Babu and Durul were also starting for nearby villages in search of work. They said, during the other season of the year, all of them are engaged in varieties of professions like mango trading, petty business, farming and even day-labouring. During the winter, they do not have any work in rural areas that is why they come to Rajshahi in search of work.  

Dhunkar Ayub Ali informed, he has been working as a Dhunkar in Rajshahi since 2005. Rising early in the morning, he cooks his own food and after taking the meal he gather with all other Dhunkars near Charkhuta crossing by 6am and decide among themselves to visit separate areas or villages in groups.

He further said, it will cost Tk 1,300 to make six feet broad by eight feet long quilt and a pillow made of silk-cotton will cost Tk 500 to 700. A model size mattress made of the best quality Karpas cotton (Gossypium arboreum) will cost Tk 2,700 to 2,800. 

He informed that nearly seventy percent of people of the village are involved with the job of Dhunkar. Some of the Dhunkars have also gone to Dhaka, Pabna, Rangpur and other places of the country as well. 

He further said, due to the exorbitant price of cotton, foam cotton and Karpas cotton, people are now reluctant to make quilts and mattresses. They rather choose to purchase low cost blankets. As a result, they are not getting sufficient work nowadays.

Meanwhile, cotton trader Khaleque at Tulapatti area of the city informed the price of foam cotton is Tk 130 per kg, Shimul cotton at Tk 350 per kg, Karpas cotton at Tk 120 per kg 

and the garments cutting cotton at Tk 30 per kg. 

Delowar Hossain of Daspukur area of the city came to Tulapatti area to make a quilt. He informed, there is no alternative of quilt during the winter. That is why he was visiting Tulapatti to make and purchase a quilt.