Artistic furniture from areca wood delights tourists

Fancy furniture made from areca nut trees has drawn attention of locals as well as tourists from home and abroad, thanks to the innovative pursuit of Abdus Sattar Fakir.

"Usually areca tree is used to make fence or sako (a small bridge) or as fuel but I am making nice-looking furniture from it, to the surprise of many people," said Sattar, 65, at his workshop in Zero Point area of Kuakata beach in the district.

He makes different types of furniture including chair (priced at Tk 10,000), easy chair (Tk 18,000), tea-table (Tk 8,500), rocking bed (Tk 25,500), and four-seated sofa-set (Tk 32,500).

"The items made from areca tree are very strong and durable. Lastly I have made an easy chair and a model sailing boat to gift to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Sattar said.

"The three feet and three inches long and ten inches high sailing boat and five feet long and two feet five inches wide easy chair are very nice-looking and people come to my shop to see it, he said.

"There is a two feet eight inches long baitha (paddle) attached to the boat while setting of cockle and shell of snail adds to its beauty.

"I submitted a letter through the Patuakhali DC on May 17, seeking appointment of the prime minister and still waiting for the opportunity to meet her with the gift," said Sattar, adding that in 1975, he was charmed to hear the speech of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at a meeting in Kalapara.

"Many locals, even tourists from home and abroad, buy furniture from my workshop as the items are very stylish. I cannot make furniture as per demand as I have to work alone," he said.

Sattar said he initiated making such furniture as a hobby five years ago and started the work on commercial basis in July last year.

Earlier he worked as a motorcycle mechanic.

"I bought a rocking bed from Sattar's shop as the nice-looking thing beautified my house," said Dulal Karmaker of Kalapara upazila town.