Keeping winter in head, making burgi (blankets) has become popular in Bampalli in the suburbs of Bandarban district. In winter, demand increases due to tourists, so residents are busy making burgi in hopes of extra income.
Last Monday, going to Farukpara on the Bandarban-Chimbuk road, it was seen that Burgi weaving is going on from house to house on waist looms. Almost all of those making burgi are women. Runkim Bom, a resident of the neighborhood, said that the tourism season starts in Bandarban in November. Tourists like to buy burgi at this time due to winter. Burgi is sold till about March. So women, especially, weave burgi for extra income. He himself has knitted five Burgis so far.
Runkim claimed that Burgi weaving is not very profitable now due to the increase in the price of yarn. He said, about one and a half kg of yarn is required to make a Burgi. Weaving takes five to seven days. But now the price of yarn per kg in the market is 320 to 350 taka. However, forgetting the hard work, he weaves burgi because of some extra money.
A similar picture can be seen in some Bampalli like Farukpara, Laimipara, and Getsemanipara and talked to Runnem Sang Bom, a seller of burgi and woven cloth in Shailprapa, a tourist area of Farukpara-adjacent district. He said that after the outbreak of the coronavirus, the number of tourists in the district began to decrease. Although the coronavirus situation is normal, tourists have not increased as expected. However, in the hope of selling, he has already started collecting burgis, winter sheets, and mufflers around the surrounding villages.
Runnem Sang Bom said, Burgi is sold for 800 to 2 thousand rupees depending on the person. Sheets are sold for 250 to 500 taka. Apart from this, he sold mufflers for Tk 150 to Tk 200.
Sanche Bom, a resident of the area, said that there is a shortage of land due to the increase in population in the suburban bomparas. So it is not possible to run a family by gardening. Bam women earn income by making clothes, making bamboo products in their youth, and caring for family expenses.
Besides providing warmth, Burgis are in demand among tourists as well as local residents for fine weaving and handicrafts. Local residents said that after harvesting the Jum paddy, women would be busy making burgis, mufflers, and chadars.
