Bangladesh match industry
Exhibitor : Shakil Huq
The story of the match industry in Bangladesh really needs to start with an explanation of the history of the country of Bangladesh itself. The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is the third most populous Muslim country in the world, which had to fight hard for its independence.
After the end of British colonial rule in 1947 the Indian subcontinent was divided into two countries named India and Pakistan, and Pakistan consisted of two separate provinces : West Pakistan and East Bengal (renamed as East Pakistan in 1952).
The Dominion of Pakistan was composed of various ethnic and linguistic groups, with East Bengal having a mainly Bengali population.
In 1948, the Government of the Dominion of Pakistan ordained that Urdu would be the sole national language in East Bengal, as part of its policy of Islamization and Arabization. It also declared that Bengali should be written in Arabic script.
This sparked extensive protests among the Bengali-speaking majority of East Bengal who became increasingly angry at their exploitation and oppression at the hands of the Pakistani government.
After years of conflict, the central government relented and granted official status to the Bengali language in 1956.
The elections of 1970 were a turning point in the country’s struggle for independence. Although the Awami League won the majority, the military junta refused to hand over power. As there was no agreement the then President of Pakistan, General Yahya Khan, arrested the undisputed leader of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, late on the night of 25 March 1971, and the Pakistani army began indiscriminate attacks on Bengalis as part of Operation Searchlight. This was the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War..
Independence was officially declared on 26th March 1971, but it took another 9 months to achieve liberation from Pakistan. The freedom fighters of Bangladesh fought continuously for 9 months and finally defeated the Pakistani forces in December 1971.
History of the Bangladesh match industry
At one time there were many match factories in Bangladesh formerly East Pakistan (as can be seen from the following table) where many colourful match labels were produced.
| Factory | Location | Factory | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abul Khair Match Factory | Chittagong | Ispahani Match Factory | Rajahahi |
| A.K. Khan Match Company Limited | Chittagong | Jagannath Match Factory | Faridabad, Dacca |
| Amin Match Factory | Dacca | Jalabad Match Factory | Sheikhghat, Sylhet |
| Aziz Match Factory | Rajahahi | Jawlyn Match Factory | Bakerganj |
| Chattal Match Factory | Chaktai, Chittagong | Kamla Match Factory | Shopura |
| Co-operative Match Factory | P.O. Khepupara, Dist. Barisal | Pakistan Match Company Limited (PMFL) | Rupsa, Khulna |
| Dacca Match Factory Limited | Dacca | Prasanna Match Factory Limited | Dacca |
| Dada Match Works | Rupsa, Khulna | Sattar Match Works | Shampur, Faridabad, Dacca |
| Habib Industries Limited | Faridabad, Postogola, Dacca | Standard Match Factory | Chandpur, Comilla |
| Habib Match Company Limited | Bogra | Ujala Match Factory Limited | Chhota, Katra, Dacca |
| Ibrahim Match Works | Chittagong | Union Match Factory | Chandpur, Comilla |
Two of the best known factories are Dada and Dhaka:
- A very beautiful match has been created in this country. Dada Match Factory was one of the many match factories in Bangladesh, and was established at the Rupsha industrial area in the port city of Khulna in 1956, next to the Rupsha river. Dada Match even had a partnership with the world famous Swedish Match. It shut down in 2010 after being hit by a serious financial crisis. The factory used 400 permanent and 1,000 part-time workers who were not paid when the factory closed. Boxes from Dada are very hard to find.
- The Dhaka Match Factory was a subsidiary of Dada, and was located in the capital city of Dhaka. I am lucky to have some boxes from Dhaka in my collection.
In my childhood I saw those colourful match labels, but unfortunately I didn’t collect matches back then and I regret that now. As far as I know there were no significant matchbox collectors in Bangladesh in the past, due to which matchbox collecting never gained popularity and is neglected in this country.
Today there is only one match factory operating in Bangladesh, Abul Khair Match Factory Limited, but year after year they produce matches of the same design with no variety. It can be said that the use of matches is decreasing in Bangladesh now. Most people use lighters
Here are some rare matchboxes from Bangladesh, which are absolutely hard to find in Bangladesh. All the matchboxes are wooden.
Click on an image below to enlarge it and see some rare matchboxes from Dhaka Match and other Bangladesh manufacturers, together with some pictures of the now derelict Dada Match factory.
Dhaka Match Industries Co. Ltd.
Dhaka Match Factory Ltd.
Dhaka Match Factory
Amin Match Works
Amin Industries
The New Jala Bad Match Company
AK Match Company
Bangladesh Match Company
Sattar Match Works
Remains of Dada Match Factory, August 2022
Remains of Dada Match Factory, August 2022
Remains of Dada Match Factory, August 2022
Remains of Dada Match Factory, August 2022
Remains of Dada Match Factory, August 2022
Remains of Dada Match Factory, August 2022
Bonus exhibit : Souvenir Matches from Bangladesh
The match industry in Bangladesh has produced excellent matchboxes until 2000 AD. Several match factories were also operational. But then, slowly, the domestic production started to decrease and the factories started to close down.
Now there are a total of two match factories in Bangladesh. But no significant matchboxes are produced from there. On the other hand, the tobacco companies of Bangladesh have released significant souvenirs in the market in the past few years.
Basically these matchboxes are not for sale. Given as a gift to customers with tobacco products. Which we domestic collectors collect.
These matchboxes have already become quite popular among matchbox collectors in Bangladesh. Because the quality and odd shape design of these matchboxes have captured the hearts of collectors. I personally think that these souvenir matchboxes are fulfilling the needs of collectors at least to some extent.
