Tangail bamboo market booms with Tk 1.5cr in sales a month

Saiful Islam Sabuj, Tangail

In the heart of Tangail's Sakhipur upazila, a thriving bamboo market is making waves across the country. Located on the banks of Deodighi in Jadavpur union, this bustling market has become a vital hub for bamboo distribution, meeting demand from various districts and contributing significantly to the local economy.
The Deodighi bazaar, held every Monday on approximately three acres of land along the Sakhipur-Gorai road, is the largest bamboo market in the region. Here, wholesale traders from districts including Dhaka, Mymensingh, Pabna, Narayanganj, Comilla, and Ishwardi converge to purchase bamboo. The bamboo from Sakhipur is highly sought after due to its quality and affordability, with prices ranging from 150 to 350 taka per bamboo depending on its size.
The bamboo trade in Sakhipur is substantial, with reports indicating that bamboo worth around 20 lakh taka is bought and sold every market day. Beyond market days, daily sales contribute an additional 2 to 3 lakh taka, bringing the total monthly sales from the upazila to approximately 1.5 crore taka.
Sakhipur's soil is particularly well-suited for bamboo cultivation, making it a lucrative endeavor for local farmers. Bamboo farming is cost-effective, requiring minimal investment beyond the initial planting of seedlings. Once established, bamboo can be harvested annually after four to five years. Each medium-sized bamboo bush yields 80 to 90 pieces of bamboo per year.
Local farmer Kamal Hossain from Betua village highlights the profitability of bamboo cultivation. He reports earning around 8 to 10 lakh taka annually from his bamboo harvest. Many farmers are now transitioning to commercial bamboo cultivation due to its financial benefits.
The bamboo market has also created significant employment opportunities in the area. Hundreds of day laborers are engaged in various tasks, including cutting bamboo, transporting it to the market, and loading and unloading bamboo from trucks. Abdul Hai, a local laborer, shares that he earns 800 to 900 taka per day working in the bamboo trade.
Mofiz Uddin of Garasia village, a seasoned bamboo trader, notes that the high demand for bamboo across the country ensures a steady market. With daily sales and the large Monday bazaar, the bamboo trade provides a stable income for many in the upazila.
Wholesalers from major cities appreciate the quality and affordability of Sakhipur's bamboo. Nurul Islam from Dhaka mentions purchasing bamboo worth 2 to 3 lakh taka every Monday, which he then sells in Dhaka. Ashraful Islam from Narayanganj also values the bamboo from Sakhipur for its reliability and quality.
Yasin Ali, the leaseholder of Deodighi Bazaar, describes the market's significance, noting that it operates from dawn to dusk every Monday, with a large volume of transactions. The ongoing success of the bamboo market suggests a bright future for bamboo cultivation in Sakhipur, with the potential for even greater economic impact and continued growth in both local and national markets.