Factories of Netrakona

Two factories are presented as a representative for the  small cottage industry. One businessman in Netrakona mentioned, hat the most important reason why he operates in this town is that he is born here and thus disposes about power and influence in the locality. This is perhaps a major framework condition that is often neglected. 

Sylhet Bakery 

This biscuit factory is at  choto bazaar in Netrakona town, and very famous among the citizens. They produce a wide range of products, but mainly biscuits, which are given names, such as bhalobasa (love) or sobani. Apparently, the bestsellers are the Ovaltine biscuits, which remind of a western company’s product. Cakes also belong to the selection, either in small sizes, such as the ‘top cakes’, or as slices. Exquisite products are the small tarts, which are comparatively expensive. Other batter products include sweet roles and `Hot Pits` with meat inside. Apart from this, ordinary toast is also available.

The ingredients are bought from Netrakona, Mymensingh, or Dhaka, depending on the current prices. 26 staffs work in this enterprise; of them four to five in the selling room, and seven are rickshaw drivers. Apart from Abdul Wahid, the owner, the rest of them work in the bakery from six a.m. to six p.m., making and packaging the products. They get a salary between 2000-3000Tk per month. Food and the accommodation in the bakery are free. Other everyday costs, such as for shaving, are reimbursed as well. The owner says, that these people are no relatives of  him and that they need one to two years “learning by doing” apprenticeship, depending on their capacity. Some staff work already for eight years in the Sylhet bakery. The owner mentions Atpara and a small part of Kendua Upazila as his main markets besides Netrakona town. Some shopkeepers come to his bakery and buy directly, but he also possesses eight rickshaw-vans and delivers to them, sending his drivers, who carry the products to the shops.

Dulal Jorda factory

Twenty-five years ago, Sheikh  Osman Goni Dulal founded his  jorda factory.  Jorda is made out of grinded tobacco that is processed with various chemicals. The Raw materials come from outside. I.e. tobacco comes  from Rangpur and Mr. Dulal buys all the chemicals from Dhaka but they are originally from Europe or America.  Jorda is consumed together with  pan  and betel nut. Mr. Dulal employs around one hundred people in two different factories. One of those, where the jorda is manufactured, is near the Sabalamby model farm, the other one in the fifth floor of a multi storey building in town. This is just next to the  Sahid Minar and it is here, that the jorda is packed and made ready for selling. Most of the workers are women, who fill the jorda into little tin containers. The workers at different machines, i.e. at the label machine, are men. Finally, one boy seals the plastic package for a bunch of containers with the flame of a kerosene 34lamp. Depending on their task, the workers get 40, 50 or 60 Taka a day. Working hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but can be extended until 10 p.m. when necessary. The main market for Dulal Jorda is the greater Mymensingh area, but he also has a small share in Dhaka.

However, he says that producing in Dhaka  would be much more expensive than in Netrakona and on the other hand, the transport costs are not a problem.