Prayer cap crafting makes Bogura women self-reliant

Cross-stitched prayer cap makers of Bogura are bringing in millions of foreign currency as their handcrafted caps are popular in Middle Eastern countries.

The area known as Tupi Palli in Sherpur of Bogura has finally recovered from the losses incurred during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to local sources, the villagers have made huge sales during this Eid-ul-Fitr season which is when prayer caps are in great demand.

A few decades ago, some women started knitting caps for their male family members. As the art took hold, more women started knitting, crocheting, and selling caps in their free time to make extra income.

The women of these villages in Sherpur knit caps almost all year round, although their handicrafts are usually in great demand before the two biggest holy festivals of Muslims.

In the last two years, production was a bit low due to the pandemic but the artisans have turned around finally during last Eid.

Around 50,000 people, mostly women of Sherpur, are involved in crafting knitted caps. Traders buy the caps from the artisans and export them to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries.

This trade started more than two decades ago in Kalyani village of Sherpur upazila. Currently, the trade is popular in other villages of the upazila, such as Joyla-Juan, Joyla-Aladi, Char-Kalyani, Chakdhuli, Guagachi, Binodpur, Mirjapur, Khanpur, Khanpur Dahopara, Sherua, Sherua Bottola, Hamchayapur, Kathaltola, and Vimjani.

More than 300 people are also involved in fieldwork to deliver yarn and other materials needed for crafts to these villages. They also buy the caps at a wholesale price, excluding the yarn from the artisans.

Since the craftsmen do not need to invest any extra money in the industry, except for their labour and art, they can work without worrying about lending money.

The extra income has helped many women in the area become self-sufficient. From teenagers to grown women, people of all ages are involved in this industry.

An on-spot investigation of one village showed some women sitting under the shade of a tree, busy working on their crafts while gossiping and enjoying their time.

Maria, Shilpi Khatun, Kulsum Bibi, and Shirin Akhter are expert artisans who have been involved in this craft for years. According to them, they have been knitting caps from a young age.

Most of these women in the industry want to hold on to the tradition while also earning extra money by making use of their free time. With the touch of their skilful hand, caps of different designs take shape.

According to cap knitters Lilima Akhter and Sabina Khatun, school-going boys and girls also knit caps along with their studies. The housewives crochet caps in the midst of their leisure from household chores.

Especially during Eid, an expert cap maker can earn Tk 300-400 daily as the demand is quite high then. The traders provide the yarn and then buy the caps straight from the craftsmen excluding the price of the yarn. So there is no hassle of taking them to the market to sell.

Jewel Akanda, chairman of Bogura District Handicraft and Cottage Industry Development Association, said the cap making craft is popular in Bogura Sadar, Sherpur, Dhunat, Kajipur, Rayganj, Sariakandi, Shivganj, and Shajahanpur upazila of the district.

“But the industry is most active in Sherpur upazila. The most popular designs are Tahfiz, Spider, Biscuit, Five cents, Bur flower, Fishbone, Ten flower, Pineapple, etc.”

According to Akanda, who is also the proprietor of Jewel Cap Depot, the Tahfiz design is most sought among all others. The business had been stagnant for the past two years due to the pandemic, but this year they have already made huge sales.

Traders from all over the country place advance orders before Eid, and Akanda then pays the workers accordingly for the caps. The caps are then exported to Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other countries of the world.

“Many other local traders like me are involved in this business. We invest in the materials and hire field workers to deliver them and the craftsmen can work without having to worry about not making a profit,” Akanda said.

As they buy the finished products straight from the artisans, the workers get a fair price. He then sells them to the traders who export the caps to different countries of the world. The caps sell for Tk 40-200 depending on design and quality.