Thedailystar – A carrom factory owner in Jhenidah is earning good profit by making boards amid coronavirus situation as the game of carrom has become very popular in the district during the current ongoing pandemic situation.
Workers of the factory said they are busy making carrom boards all the day long amid the pandemic as its demand is very high now. They work till 10:00pm at the factory every day.
Parvej Hasan, 26, son of Md Reazuddin of Arpara village in Kaliganj upazila, is the owner of the factory named ‘Reazuddin wood house’.
While talking to this correspondent on Monday noon, the factory owner said due to extreme poverty, he had to give up his study in 2008 when he was the student of Class VIII and started to work at a local furniture factory.
He further said his father has no land and it is tough for his father to run their eight-member family. They live on three decimals of land. In 2009, he was again admitted at Class IX under Open University. He will sit for the degree exam this year.
He added that he set up this factory in 2019 where seven workers work every day.
Before March 8, he sold only 60 carrom boards but during the pandemic, he is selling 100 pieces per month. During this time, the demand of carrom has increased surprisingly. Especially the students are buying carrom boards as their schools and colleges remain closed due to coronavirus outbreak. They pass time at home by playing carrom.
Besides, the traders of Dhaka and Chattogram are purchasing a good number of carrom boards from him during the situation, said Parvej.
They make carrom boards in different sizes. A small sized board costs around Tk 800/900 to make and they sell at Tk 1200/1300 while a large sized board costs at Tk 2500/2600 to make and it is sold at Tk 3000/3500.
He added that he earns Tk 25000/30000 from selling the carrom boards per month.
Arafat Hossain, a student of class nine at Government Naldanga Bhusan Pilot Secondary School, said he has bought a carrom board from Parvej.
He along with his sisters play carrom during the time as their school is closed, said Arafat.