Home ›› 16 Feb 2023 ›› Nation
Wig-making factories in Dinajpur’s Hili have created employment opportunities for many marginal women of the locale, benefitting them financially.
Many women of Hakimpur have become self-reliant by working in various wig factories of the upazila.
Some 40 wig-making factories have been established in Boalder, Gohara, Hariharpur, Dangapara, and Palibattoli villages of the upazila where over 1,000 women are currently employed. The employees earn about Tk 6,000-12,000 per month.
The factory owners mostly import hair from India through Hili Land Port. The hair is then cleaned with shampoo and chemicals and made into wigs that sell for different prices depending on length and quality.
Sultana Khatun, a female worker at the Hariharpur wig-making factory in the upazila, said her family was struggling to cope with her husband’s singular income as commodity prices keep climbing higher.
“I got hired as a wig material cleaner at a factory for a monthly salary of Tk 6,000. Now I can provide for my family and live comfortably,” she said.
Parveen Akhter, a factory worker of Boalder village of the upazila, said many women in the area became self-sufficient by working at the wig factory.
“The wage depends on capability. If one can make more wigs, one can earn up to Tk 10,000. This is a good opportunity for many of us to alleviate our financial burden,” he said.
Nirmala Kispatta, of Gohara village of the upazila, said, “It takes about two to three days to make a wig and I get paid Tk 1,200 per wig. I do not have a fixed monthly salary, but I earn about Tk 10,000-12,000 per month.”
Momena Begum of Dangapara also gets paid per wig she makes. She said with experience, one can become more efficient in wig-making and earn more money. Currently, she earns about Tk 9,000 per month.
Mamun Hossain, manager of a hair cap factory in Hakimpur upazila, said workers of the factory are divided into two categories.
“We buy hair from traders all over the country. The cleaners clean the hair and get a monthly wage. And wig makers get paid per wig they make,” he said, adding that the wigs made in their factory are sold in different parts of the country and also exported abroad.
Boalder union parishad Chairman Sadrul Islam said the wig factories have created employment opportunities for the local women so that they no longer have to go to Dhaka to find jobs in garment factories.
“Our union parishad is eager to provide the necessary support to build more factories in the area. We are always working towards developing our area socially and economically,” he said.
Nashat Traders and Ashiq Enterprise are importing discarded hair from RK Exports and Human Hair, based in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Nur Islam, the proprietor of Nashat Traders, said recently many hair cap factories is being established in the region, where different types of toupees or wigs are made of discarded hair. Since the the start of financial year 2021-22, to meet the growing demand for hair at these factories, discarded hair is being imported from India.
At present, a kilogram of hair imported from India costs about Tk 5,400, with a duty of Tk 850 per kg, he added.
Nur Islam says there are 25 factories in Dinajpur that buy discarded hair to make wigs for export. Nur Islam imports hair twice a month, each consignment consisting of 1,400 kilograms of hair.
At the factories, the hair is first sorted by workers, mostly women. Then it is processed, using shampoo and various chemicals, to make wigs.
According to Hili Customs Station Revenue Office sources, in FY2021-22, from 1 July to 24 September, 4,780 kilograms of hair was imported from India across the land port, and the government has earned Tk 20.27 lakh in tax revenue.
Hakimpur Upazila Parishad chairman Md Harun-Ur-Rashid said the wig factories in the upazila have helped in improving the lives of the marginal women in the area.
“More women are becoming self-reliant these days, earning money and providing for their families. We will provide the necessary support to improve the locals’ quality of life,” he added.
