With the arrival of winter, workers in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi are busy making blankets and matrasses. In just a few days, the intense cold in the bordering area will begin to set in. To prepare for that, many people have already started flocking to the blanket and mattress shops.
Local residents said that due to Bagha's riverine and border location, the winter is more intense here. As a result, people have started making blankets and mattresses earlier this year. From morning till evening, people are crowding around the shops selling blankets and mattresses. Meanwhile, middle and upper-middle-class customers can be seen visiting the large textile shops in the upazila to buy blankets. However, both buyers and sellers have confirmed that the cost of cotton, mattress fabric, foam, and labor has increased this year compared to last.
Local people also mentioned that due to climate change, the winter season started in October-November this year, and its intensity is expected to increase further. As a result, the blanket and mattress makers are experiencing a busy period, receiving more orders than usual.
In the Padma Char region of Bagha, located in the northern part of the country, the cold becomes noticeable as soon as evening falls. To keep themselves warm during this winter, people sought after blankets and mattresses. This has led to a rush in blanket and mattress shops in the upazila. Many people are also replacing the covers of their old blankets and mattresses. However, analysts believe that the intensity of the cold will increase this year due to climate change. During the winter season, these businesses prepare ready-made blankets and mattresses for sale.
Oahidur Rahman, a resident of Bagha Municipal area, and Golam Mustafa, a teacher from the char area, said, this year, the price of blankets and mattresses is slightly higher than last year. With the cold starting to set in over the past week, they have come to buy blankets. However, this year, sellers are charging Tk 10 to Tk 20 taka per kilogram for cotton. They have requested the authorities' attention to this matter.
