Tailor tradition

I mostly make flags of different countries. I just received this 180 pieces Bangladeshi flag-making order for the 51st Independence day for an NGO. Besides that, I often get the request for making flags of different countries that plays football. Mostly Brazil and Argentina as most of the Bangladeshi people support these two countries when it comes to football. I am excited because Football World Cup is coming very soon this year and I am going to get a lot of orders for preparing flags. Besides making flags I do normal altering things for different types of clothes.

I used to study in Bodor Mukam School - Cox’s Bazar. I studied till class 5. After that, I haven't felt like studying anymore and spent a few years doing nothing. Since that time my father and my brother used to do this 'Khalifa' work (Tailoring). It's a family tradition. I saw my father doing this when I was a kid and someday I also wanted to start.

A few years later my father died and my brother got sick. So I had to take the responsibility of working so I chose the same work. I started working as a tailor in this shop. I learned all these by sitting beside my brother when I was young. He taught me these works. I was 15 when I started this. I started in this shop in 2007 but my brother opened this 15 years before 2007. So it's a pretty old shop and still the same size. My brother went to Dubai as well and used to work as a tailor there too.

Previously I used to get small works mostly as a tailor but nowadays in last 3 years I get big orders like today's flag order. I want my children to continue their education and finish their higher studies to get a good jobs. I don't want to make this shop bigger because I don't want to expand my business and stay like this. I am happy to continue this work as it's a family tradition. I am very grateful that I am continuing my father's job and I love doing it - Mohammad Idris - 40 - Tailor