Weaving a life from jute

Twenty-eight years ago, Awal Byapari struggled to support his wife and three sons by selling tea for Tk 1,500 to Tk 2,000 a month. Today, the 64-year-old weaves jute fabric at home in Faridpur, while his wife, Tahmina Begum, turns it into wallets and handbags.

The change began when Tahmina joined a Bangladesh Rural Development Board training programme on making jute products. Awal initially helped her, then learned the craft himself. He later bought five handlooms for Tk 5,000 and began producing fabric at their home in Baishrashi village.

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It was very difficult to support my family by selling tea. I used to earn Tk 1,500-2,000 a month. After we started making jute products, our situation gradually improved. Now I can work from home and support my family.

Awal and three workers once produced 2,500 to 3,000 pieces a month. Their current output is about 1,500 items, including roughly 1,000 wallets and 500 handbags, which are sold through Aarong. The business now brings in up to Tk 50,000 a month.

“It was very difficult to support my family by selling tea,” Awal said. “After we started making jute products, our situation gradually improved. Now I can work from home and support my family.”

The earnings have also changed the prospects of their children. Awal spent about Tk 15 lakh to send two sons abroad, while their third son works for a private company in Dhaka after completing a master’s degree. He also bought 18 decimals of land for around Tk 5 lakh and built a single-storey house.

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I took the training after learning that sewing would be taught near our home. I never knew it would one day change our fortunes. We are doing very well with this work now. As long as Allah gives us the ability, we will continue.

Tahmina, who first learned the craft, said she never expected the training to change the family’s fortunes. “As long as Allah gives us the ability, we will continue,” she said.

The couple now run the business themselves. Awal said working from home had become part of his life and that continuing to earn as he grows older was his greatest achievement. But the enterprise faces a practical obstacle: three of the five handlooms are idle because the couple cannot find enough people willing to operate them.

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This work has become part of my life. I am getting older, but I still enjoy it. Being able to earn while working from home is my greatest achievement.