Gaibandha:Around 370 women from five villages in two upazilas of Gaibandha are experiencing financial stability by earning at least Taka 8,000 a month through wig-making, significantly improving their livelihoods and supporting their families.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, many of these women previously worked as domestic helpers or daily laborers, while others had no employment opportunities. The shift to wig-making has enabled them to earn around Taka 10,000 per month, providing household stability.
A wig-making factory named 'Satata Hair Processing' has been established at Khamar Boali village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila, approximately seven kilometers from the district town. This factory employs 350 women, and four additional factories have been set up in Tinmile and Badiakhali in Sadar upazila, and Kalirbazar and Madanerpara in Fulchhari upazila, employing a total of 780 women across these locations.
The initiative, led by Raju Ahmed from Dinajpur district, began in Khamar Boali village. Hair for wig-making is collected by small traders from various villages, exchanged for plastic items, pickles, and chocolates, then sold to wholesalers in Dinajpur for primary processing.
Wig-exporting factories purchase the processed hair from wholesalers at Taka 10,000 per kilogram and send it to China for further processing. The hair is then imported back to Bangladesh at Taka 60,000 per kilogram, where it is used to produce wigs based on market demand from Chinese buyers.
The five factories collectively produce approximately 1,500 hair caps monthly, which are exported to China periodically. Each cap yields a profit of Taka 200 to Taka 500 for the enterprise.
Women workers receive seven to ten days of training, enabling them to produce between seven and ten wigs per month. Depending on the cap size, a worker earns between Taka 500 and Taka 2,000 per cap.
During a recent visit to the Satata Hair Processing factory, women were observed working at various stages of production, with some supervising, measuring hair, or checking finished products. The factory's operations resembled those of a garment factory.
Rahela Khanam from Kheyaghat village, part of a five-member family, has been employed at the factory for two months, earning Taka 8,000 monthly. Her income helps cover her educational expenses and contribute to her family. Similarly, Rina Begum of Khamar Boali village supplements her mason husband's income by earning Taka 8,000 to Taka 10,000 per month at the factory.
Abdul Karim, a supervisor, noted that women who previously worked as domestic helpers have achieved self-reliance through this work. Satata Hair Processing Manager Firoz Kabir mentioned that the enterprise is currently making a modest profit, with plans to establish an additional 20 to 25 factories as more skilled workers become available.