Just behind the CNG station is a bidi factory, owned by the same family. ...the same family, in fact, that owns the land MCC leased for our project site. From what I'm told, this bidi factory was where they started and the base from which they later got into other business and real estate.
Bidis are handrolled, unfiltered cigarettes -- sold for Tk 6 per pack of 25. That's 4 for a taka, or 3 a penny. So getting your nicotine fix doesn't cost you much here in Bangladesh.
...and making the bidis doesn't pay much either. I was told these Mukti Bidi employees are paid Tk 16 per 1,000 bidis rolled, and that they can roll up to 12,000 per day. That would close to Tk 200 per day (over $3), and I doubt they actually get that much. Whatever it is, I doubt any of these employees have made it big like the factory owner ...or are getting free (mukti = free) of financial worry any time soon.
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