Bogura’s Three Star Mats reigns country’s plastic mat market

Highlights

• Average monthly demand for mats in domestic market 120,000 pieces
• Last few years, average annual transaction almost Tk22 crore
• Tk15 crore business expected at this yearend
• Demand of plastic mats in South Africa 20,000 pieces a week
• Huge demand in Myanmar, South Asian countries
• 150 males and females work in the factory

The plastic mats made in Three Star Mats factory in village Chhatni of Bogura have captured the market in all the districts of the country in just three years as the wholesale and retail buyers are satisfied with their quality and prices.

Md Imran Sheikh, who has been in the business in Feni for about nine years, buys at least 10,000 pieces of mats from Three Star per month.  He said there are four types of mats in his store but the demand of Three Star Mats is the highest as their quality and colour are better.

Around 150 workers, both female and male, work there to meet the growing domestic and international demand for plastic mats. The photo was taken recently. Photo: Md Ali Asraf Bhuyan

Sufal Kumar Mandal, who has a mat shop in Panchagarh and another in Lalmohan upazila of Bhola, also buys around 8,000 pieces of Three Star mats per month. Besides, Md Jinarul Islam in Gangni upazila of Meherpur said he sold Three Star mats worth Tk55 lakh last year.

Nahid Sultana, the proprietor of Three Star Mats, started mat business in 2017, investing around Tk3 crore, including a bank loan. Now her assets are around Tk15 crore. Initially, the daily production was 4,000 pieces in the factory from a machine she brought from India. However, from February to October, sometimes the daily demand for mats reached 12,000 pieces.

She produces different sizes and qualities of mats for various needs, including performing prayers, and the price ranges from Tk45 to Tk420.

The average monthly demand for mats in the country's markets is 120,000 pieces. In the last few years, the average annual transaction was almost Tk22 crore. Though the business has shrunk amid the pandemic, she expects a business of Tk15 crore at the end of this year, said Nahid Sultana.

"We are thinking of exporting mats to seven countries including South Africa, Sudan, Thailand and Somalia. The demand in South Africa is 20,000 pieces a week. There is also a huge demand for plastic mats in neighbouring Myanmar and other South Asian countries," she added.

We are thinking of exporting mats to seven countries including South Africa, Sudan, Thailand and Somalia. There is also a huge demand for plastic mats in neighbouring Myanmar and other South Asian countries

Nahid Sultana

Nahid started her entrepreneurial journey 20 years ago with poultry business with a capital of only Tk15,000. 

She said about 150 male and female workers, including six Indian women, are now working in her mat factory.

Razia Sultana, who works in the finishing department of "Three Star Mats", said she used to struggle in running her family in the past but now she can maintain the household expenses with the salary. 

Md Sujan Ali has been the manager of Three Star Mats since the beginning of the company. He said, "The working environment in our organisation is very good. Besides, our salary increases every year."