Quilt makers race against time as bone-chilling cold grips Lalmonirhat

Life across all five upazilas of northern Lalmonirhat has slowed to a shiver as the biting cold of Poush tightens its grip. 

With an unrelenting cold wave sweeping the region, quilts and mattresses have become the primary shield against the freezing nights, leaving local quilt makers with barely a moment to breathe.

At haat-bazars and roadside shops across Lalmonirhat Sadar and surrounding areas, business is booming. 

From dawn to deep night, the courtyards of quilt makers echo with the rhythmic khat-khat of sewing machines, as artisans wash cotton, stuff layers and stitch tirelessly to keep up with soaring demand.

Over the past few days of continuous cold, demand for quilts and mattresses in rural areas has multiplied several times. 

Artisans say that while much of the year passes in relative idleness, these three winter months are their main earning season. 

The workload has now become so intense that many shops are struggling to find time even for meals. 

Alongside new quilts, there is a rush of customers bringing old ones for repairs or refilling with fresh cotton.

A visit to Tushbhandar Bazaar in Kaliganj upazila reveals clear class-based preferences. Low-income buyers are opting for cheaper quilts made from recycled cotton, while middle-income families prefer kapash or shimul cotton. 

However, rising prices of cotton and fabric have made quilts more expensive across the board.

Customer Malek Mia said, "Compared to last year, it now costs Tk300 to Tk500 more to make a quilt. With prices rising everywhere, surviving has become increasingly difficult for ordinary people like us."

Veteran artisan Solaiman Ali of Kaliganj said each craftsman is producing three to four quilts a day, yet meeting delivery deadlines has become a struggle. 

"As the cold intensifies, the pile of orders keeps growing," he said.

Trader Samad Mia noted that depending on quality, the cost of making a quilt now ranges between Tk1,500 and Tk2,000. Due to the higher price of shimul cotton, many customers are choosing kapash cotton as an alternative.

Meanwhile, members of the local civil society have called for stronger winter relief efforts for the poor and destitute. 

The Lalmonirhat district administration has already begun distributing blankets, offering some relief amid one of the harshest winter spells of the season.