Home ›› 05 Sep 2022 ›› Nation
Hundreds of people, both male and female, have become self-reliant and they are contributing to the local economy through manufacturing shoes in a village in the district.
In the village, having a pitch carpeting road and is situated nearly 30 km away from Rajshahi city, the factories are seen manufacturing adequate finished products to meet the gradually mounting demands for shoes and other footwear items in the region.
The Kaluhati shoe village under Charghat upazila is famous for its footwear products among businessmen from different parts of the country. It has around 65 shoe factories employing around 7,500 male and female workers.
They supply shoes to most of the districts in the northern region. The factory owners are getting massive responses from all quarters which is a positive sign of furthermore expansion of the business.
Most of them are working relentlessly to recoup the losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in its worst situation.
Apart from working in the factories, many women have already become small-scale entrepreneurs in manufacturing shoe packets, bags, key-ring, purses and wallets.
Shoes and sandals manufactured in the village have earned fame throughout the country.
The families are taking advantage of establishing such types of factories with small investments with their family members successfully.
Sohel Rana is now a successful entrepreneur through the business. But his initial growth was not smooth. He had to face many adversities to achieve his present dignified status.
“I had started this business with Tk 20,000 in 2002 and my capital investment is around Tk 25 lakh at present,” said Sohel Rana, owner of Konika Shoes Factory, a village shop.
He has been supplying finished goods to Aarong and some other posh shops in Dhaka at present.
Once, 15 people from the village used to sell shows on bicycles in Rajshahi city and adjacent areas. Over the years, the mode of the business has changed and shoes are now being manufactured in local factories enhancing the distribution chain.
At present, most families are solvent and self-reliant. Many families now live in brick-built houses with electricity facilities.
Many small shoe factories flourished in the village with financial and technical assistance from the Small and Medium Enterprises Foundation (SMEF).
Sohel Rana said the village has around 65 shoe factories employing around 7,000 people and 50 per cent of them are female at present.
These small factories produce around 2.5 lakh pairs of sandals, for all genders including for children and sell those in various districts every month.
Consumers’ demand for attractive designs and good quality products has gradually been rising amid the rising population.
“My income has risen. Now I am earning between Tk 4,500 and 5,500 per month on an average,” said Morzina Begum, a worker at Konika Shoe factory.
She said many housewives and unemployed youths in the village have changed their lot by making shoes and packets. The shoe manufacturers make good business during Eid and other religious and social festivals.
Shoemaker Firoj Ahmed said each of the workers earns at least Tk 12,000 to 15,000 during Eid and other religious festivals.
Abida Sultana, an owner of a packet and box factory, said their goods are sold in both wholesale and retail markets. She said, “We receive more orders in the Eid season.”
“Additional 2,500 labourers are engaged in various works like designing, sewing, cutting, sole making, and painting,” said Sultana.
“I am supplying necessary packets to the shoe factories,” said Anwar Hossain, owner of Anwar Packet Store. He started his business with an investment of Tk 5,000 in 2013.
More than 65 women are working in his business and the amount of running capital stood at Tk 20 lakh at present, he added.
Shoemaking has become a source of income for unemployed youths and many have become economically solvent through the business.
“We are working here to boost the capability and efficiency of the entrepreneurs for successful business promotion,” said Hossain.
