Popular in cities, towns and villages throughout the country, the game of carrom was probably invented in the royal courts of ancient India though exact origins are unclear.

In Jessore's Newmarket carrom is not solely about leisure. It's a cottage industry employing hundreds of people in eight factories. Jessore-made carrom boards are sold right across the nation.

A visit to a carrom factory is to find it alive with noise: a paintbrush flicks back and forth, a chisel taps away, saws buzz rhythmically as timber is cut and an electric sander whirrs as wood is smoothed. It's hard for the ears to know what to focus on among all the activity.

“I've been working on carrom boards for three years,” says painter Abdul Kader who works at Pori Carrom Board Factory. “We use timber from wood apple, acacia, north Indian rosewood and mahogany. Plywood and bamboo nails help tighten the timber.” Abdul earns Tk 400 per day painting the boards, which he says is satisfactory.

Another worker at the factory Nayan Hossain, 20, had to give up his study after completing class six, due to his family's dire economic circumstances. “I like this work. I earn Tk 200 per day and it's helpful to our family.”

For factory manager Sanowar Hossain, who works at Meghna Factory, carrom boards have returned his life path to the straight and narrow. “I did various unlawful deeds during my political life,” he confesses. “Since joining this enterprise as manager my life is wholesome once more.”

He is not alone. According to several factory owners, many jobless young people who once led wayward lives have been able to reform themselves thanks to employment in the carrom industry. “Sports materials make a man happy,” says one factory owner. “Here, they can forget their troubles and earn enough to lead an honest life.”

“We make boards in different sizes,” says Monir Hossain who owns the Pori factory and has been in the business for eight years. A large sized board costs around Tk 2,750 to make and we sell them for up to Tk 3,500. But the best quality board will sell for as much as Tk 10,000.”

Medium-sized boards retail for around Tk 2,500 while the small-sized carrom boards for children will sell for about Tk 1,200.

Mostak Hossain who owns Apon Carrom Board Factory has been in the trade for four years.

“Workers' salaries cost us Tk 4,000 per day,” he says. “In this locality there are several factories like ours but elsewhere in greater Jessore carrom board factories are few. Indeed, traders from across the country visit this area to purchase stock.” Timber scrap from the factories is sold as fuel for up to Tk 150 per sack, he adds.

“We buy all our carrom boards from the Jessore Khajura bus stand area in New Market,” says the owner of Laboni Sports House in Jhenidah's Kaliganj upazila. “The quality of the carrom boards from there is very good, and for carrom sets there is always healthy demand.”