Photo : Collected

DHAKA, May 17, 2025 (BSS) - More than 500 women of Helai village on the bank of Chitra River in the Kaliganj municipal area of Jhenaidah district have become self-reliant by making shopping bags.

 After completing their household chores, these homemakers utilize their leisure time to make shopping and tissue bags from sacks. The income women earn from the work contributes to their family expenses, bringing financial stability to their families. 

Their collective effort has brought recognition for Helai as the 'Bager Gram’ (bag village) as a large number of women are involved in bag-making.

 Driven by strong determination and interest, those women work hard to make them self-reliant and independent.

The women of Helai village produce those shopping bags from sacks, tissue, and non-woven materials. 

Currently, around 50 women are engaged in producing non-woven shopping bags, while most of the women work with sack materials.

 Bags of various sizes -small, medium, and large-are made by cutting sacks originally used for packaging of salt, fertilizer, and medicines. 

Women make the bags knitting in hand and also in motorized machines. Depending on the type, each sack costs around Tk 3 to 4, and from one sack, two bags can typically be made. A small size bag is sold in the retail market at Tk 3, medium at Tk 5, and large size at Tk 10. Helai village is now a home of nearly one hundred bag makers. 

Traders purchase truckloads of sacks, clean and dry them, and then distribute them among women workers at a fixed wage. 

One such woman entrepreneur is Roksana Begum. Her husband Akhtar Hossain is from same village. Initially, Roksana used to make bags herself but started her bag business two years ago with just Tk 2,400.

“I started the business with a small capital instead of sitting idle at home. Now, my capital has grown to Tk 50,000. After covering all expenses, I earn about Tk 8,000 to Tk 10,000 per month.

 Many women in the village are involved with this work like me,” said Roksana. 

The female entrepreneur added that the business could expand further if they get financial support from the government or non-government organizations (NGOs).

One of the women, who works with Roksana is Jahura Begum, a housewife from the same village. After finishing her household chores, Jahura produces 20–25 dozen bags every day. 

At the rate of Tk 170–200 per day, she earns around Tk 5,000–6,000 per month and feels happy to contribute to her family. 

Mukhles Hossain, the leading trader in Helai village, said, “I buy 5 to 7 truckloads of material every week, and distribute those among women in the surrounding villages for making bags. 

For long, women in most households in my village are making shopping bags from sacks.

 Men often help them making and marketing of the bags. There is huge demand for the shopping bags in the market.” 

He also said that the handmade bags from Helai village not only meet local demand but also being sold in nearby districts and towns.  

Kaliganj Upazila Women Affairs Officer Taslima Begum said, “The story of over 500 women who are becoming self-reliant from a single village, is truly appreciating.

 We will look into how the Department of Women Affairs can support them.” 

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Dedarul Islam said, “I respect the self-reliant women of Helai village.

 If there's any opportunity for support from the upazila administration, we will surely provide it.”