Pandemic fallout: Daily wage earner turns kite seller
Many have now been forced to find alternative employment
Millions of low-income people are struggling to bear their household expenses now as the Covid-19 outbreak has put many out of work.
Many have been forced to find alternative employment.
Minu Miah, 65, a day labourer from Madan upazila of Netrokona district, is one of them.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Failing to find any work as a daily wage earner, he has been selling kites for the last three months.
Minu said, "I became unemployed when the general holidays had been imposed across the country. Then I saw people spending their time at home flying kites. So I made myself a kite and flew it for a few days."
"Then a guy from my village told me to make a kite for his kid. Later, he gave me some money for that. This is when the business idea of making and selling kites crossed my mind."
In the last three months, he made and sold at least 400 big and small kites, Minu said, adding that he can make four-five types of kites.
Depending on the size, the price of a kite varies from Tk250 to Tk1,000. Also, many people are placing orders for larger kites which cost a little bit more.
Since it is the rainy season, Minu is making kites with polythene instead of paper. This makes the kite durable and it does not get damaged by rain or wind.
In addition to polythene, bamboo splits and thread cost Minu a little more. Except for these small costs, the money he gets from selling kites is his profit.
"Even though the general holidays have been lifted, I do not work as a day labourer for the fear of contracting coronavirus. I am managing my household expenses by selling kites."
Not only the residents of Madan upazila but also many kite enthusiasts from far and wide are coming to collect kites from Minu.
Abdul Awal, a resident of Madan, said, "Not only Minu but many others like him are making and selling kites now. There is a huge demand for kites after the Covid-19 outbreak."
The general holidays, imposed considering the Covid-19 situation in the country, pushed everyone indoors.
Confined to homes, many people in towns and villages of Netrokona district started flying kites. It has continued even after the general holidays have been lifted.
