Abu Sayeed's toy birds

About

Abu Sayeed (31) of Begumpur village in Keshabpur upazila, Jashore, has made toy birds for 17 years and sells them across the country. As a boy he ran away from home to Savar, where toy-bird seller Shukkur Mia taught him the craft; later, at his mother's request, he came home and began making them himself. He makes four kinds: parrots, pigeons, roosters and rupchanda (pomfret) fish, from foam pad with paint, glue, rubber thread, straw and sequins. With his wife and other family members he makes about a thousand toys a day, spending 15 days a month making and 15 selling. Orders for 13,000-14,000 toys a month come from Khulna, Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Kurigram, Noakhali, Barishal, Kuakata, Magura and Chuadanga; he delivers in person or by courier. Monthly sales are about Tk 1 lakh, leaving Tk 60,000-65,000 after all costs. When orders are slow he sells retail himself, hanging the toys from both ends of a pole, in Khulna city and elsewhere.

Products and services

• Toy birds (wholesale)

  Tk 7 / each

  Parrot, pigeon, rooster and pomfret fish

• Toy birds (retail)

  Tk 15–30 / each

Prices as given by the owner; ask before you buy.

Address and hours