About 5 thousand people of 1 thousand poor families in Kurigram, the poor district in the northern region in the country are now engaged in making bamboo-made products for their livelihood.

They are making and selling bamboo made products such as fan, dali, kula,chatai,kholoi, chailon etc. and each  family has been earning about Tk 6,000 to 7,000 per month.

These are wide used in every family living in both urban and rural areas. The male members of a family generally collect materials from different sources including markets while the women make them.

The technique of producing handicrafts has been handed down from generation to generation. Their sons and daughters who read in primary schools also make such kind of

bamboo made products in the leisure time.

These products are mainly available for sale at different markets in the district. The bamboo made products ate available in plenty at Bhurungamari, Nageswari, Phulbari, Kathalbari, Rajarhat,Jatrapur,Durgapur,Ulipur,Rajibpur and Kurigram municipality market.

Talking to Bhabes Chandra Das 55,Kamola Rani55,Monika Rani 30 and Bulo Bala 52 of village Patnipara under Kathalabari union of Kurigram sadar upa zila told that the business is going on from our generation to generation. Although the activities go on round the year but in the Bangla month from Baishakh to Jaistha is the main monsoon as the harvesting of IRRI-Boro paddy starts and Ashin to Agrahaiyan as the harvesting of Aman paddy.

The prices of bamboo, G.I. wire as well as labour cost has been increased causing the prices of all items has also been increased, said Ganes Chandra. Per fan is being sold in the market as retail at Tk. 15, Dhara/chatai per piece at Tk. 100-150, Chailon at Tk.20-30, Duli at Tk. 200 – 450. Their products are being taken and sold in Lalmonirhat and Rangpur district meeting local demands. The bamboo made hand fan is being sold in local hats and bazars daily like a hot cake due to load shedding of electricity, local

sources said.

Per family earns at Tk 6000- 7000 in per month. This is our main profession which is going on taking micro credit from local Grameen Bank and more loan is needed for better profit, said  Khagen and Suchetra Sen.