Processing and selling fallen women’s hair has become a booming business in Sherpur. This venture has already brought financial stability to more than 10,000 men and women in ten villages under three unions of this district.
The unemployed, widowers, senior citizens and students belonging to impoverished families are making a good profit through this trade, and many of them have achieved financial independence.
Some involved with this business made enough cash to repair their ramshackle homes.
Kalu Mia, a resident of Teghuria village in Sherpur Sadar upazila, is the entrepreneur behind the venture. He used to work at a wig company in Dhaka over a decade ago.
In 2007, Kalu Mia devised a plan to collect fallen hair from women in his village, process it, and then sell it directly to the Chinese buyer of the wig company.
He started the initiative in his village along with a handful of unemployed youth. As this venture gained momentum, many others began joining the business.
Young and unemployed men collect hair from women by visiting door-to-door in the early hours of the day, and trade various commodities and toys in return.
Kalu Mia and other traders then buy the collected fallen hair for Tk4,000 per kg. The hair is then sorted by the workers depending on its quality.
The workforce is comprised mostly of unemployed men and women, widowers, senior citizens and students. They earn around Tk1,500 per month through this work.
After sorting, the collected hair is then evaluated for quality and processed for sale.
The hair is then sold directly to the Chinese buyer for around Tk8,000-Tk9,000 per kg. Long hair has high demand, and it can be sold for up to Tk18,000-Tk20,000 per kg.
Speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Deputy Manager Tamanna Mohol said the organization will lend its support to the traders and female workers involved in hair collection and sale in Sherpur.
