With the onset of winter in Dinajpur, quilt and mattress craftsmen are experiencing a surge in activity as demand for warm bedding rises across the district.

As demand grows with the seasonal cold, traders report increased sales of blankets, mattresses, and pillows, keeping craftsmen occupied from early morning until late at night.

The price of cotton, the key raw material, has also gone up. Shimul cotton, considered the highest quality, is being sold for up to Tk200 per kg, while garment and regular cotton varieties range from Tk50 to Tk150 per kg. As a result, depending on cotton prices and quality, the cost of a single coating now varies between Tk1,200 and Tk5,000.

Although pillows and mattresses sell throughout the year, traders said winter brings the peak season. Craftsmen can produce five to seven mattresses a day, significantly increasing their income. Rows of shops in the Churipatti area of Dinajpur city are now stacked with piles of cotton as buyers crowd in to order customised blankets and mattresses or refurbish old ones.

“Our business mainly picks up in December,” said Md Tayyab Ali, a trader in Churipatti. “This year the cold has arrived late, but we expect sales to rise sharply in the coming days.” Another trader, Md Sohag, said they are storing larger quantities of cotton to meet the seasonal rush. “Customers are choosing their preferred cotton, and our craftsmen are working until night to deliver orders,” he added.

Quilt maker Hasan Ali said the workload has increased significantly. “We can make a quilt in 30 minutes to an hour. I am preparing five to seven quilts daily. The wages are good, and my family is doing well.”

Craftsman Mansur Ali echoed the sentiment: “We wait the whole year for winter. We hope demand will rise further and our income will increase.”

Customer Saiful Islam, who recently purchased a Shimul-cotton quilt for Tk3,500, said he preferred to have it made on the spot. “I’m preparing everything before the cold intensifies,” he said.

Dinajpur Press Club President Nurul Huda Dulal noted that, although not used year-round, blankets and mattresses become essential in the northern region during winter. “As the cold becomes harsher, demand spikes suddenly. Many people make blankets according to their own desires, and the government also distributes blankets to those in need. There is no alternative to warm bedding for a comfortable night's sleep,” he said.