RANGPUR, Oct 24: Tupi (cap) making has brought a significant change in the financial condition of thousands of village women in different areas under Gangachara upazila of the district.
Tariqul Islam Tareq, an entrepreneur, has created employment for a good number of destitute women by setting up a cap factory in the upazila.
Sources said around 3,000 extreme poor women of the upazila make caps, supply those to the factory and support their families with their income.
Tariqul began the venture in 2004 on a small scale. Then he expanded the factory and has been changing the socio-economic scenario in the area.
Apart from local demand, they also export their products abroad, Tariqul said, adding, every month his factory exports around 15,000 caps to Oman.
Amena Begum (32) wife of Hakim Mia at Mandrain village of the upazila told The Financial Express that she had been passing her days in extreme poverty even four years ago. Her husband was a day labourer. It was much difficult to maintain her impoverished family of six members with the meagre amount of income of her husband.
Then she took training on Tupi making and within a week she learned the skill of making stylish Tupi. Thus she found the way to contribute significantly to her family income.
"We get Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,500 per month for knitting Tupis depending on design and quality", some women including Motahara Begum, Leela Rani, Provati Rani of the upazila told the FE. "Earlier we passed days in near starvation but now we have changed our financial condition by making Tupi, they added.
Tariqul said due to enchanting beauty and extraordinary designs, demand for the Tupis manufactured at his factory is on the rise, he also said.
He said he would expand the business if he gets necessary support from the authority concerned.
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