Maruf's Marvel: From Modest Means to Sky-High Dreams

Despite financial hardships cutting short his college education, Maruf Hossain Molla (21) from Khajurtala village in Faridpur’s Sadarpur upazila has achieved a remarkable feat: building his own paraglider and soaring through the skies.

The youngest among four brothers and two sisters, Maruf could not afford to continue his studies after completing higher secondary school. He returned to his village and began working as a technician, repairing air conditioners and refrigerators. However, he never let his dream of flying fade. Knowing that paragliding trips in Cox's Bazar cost around 3,000 BDT — not including travel expenses — Maruf decided to chart his own path. "Instead of buying fish from the market, I chose the path of catching it with my own net," he said, drawing an analogy to his determination.

Popularly known in his village as the "Electric Master," Maruf began extensive research through the internet and YouTube, learning about paragliders powered by paramotors. Imported paramotors, he discovered, could cost 800,000 to 1,000,000 BDT, an impossible sum for him. Determined, he decided to build one himself.

Though he passed SSC in 2022 and enrolled in a Dhaka college, family poverty forced him to abandon formal education. Taking on the responsibility of supporting his family, he continued working as an electrician, all while nurturing his dream. To construct his paraglider, Maruf used raincoat fabric for the parachute and rock thread for wing design and control, both sourced from Dhaka. He repurposed an old motorcycle engine to power his creation. The total cost of the project was around 50,000 to 60,000 BDT.

Over the past two and a half months, Maruf has flown over 100 times, reaching altitudes of 70 to 80 feet. "At one time, I used to dream of flying with gas balloons or kites, but I was never successful. Later, I learned about parasailing in Cox’s Bazar, where they charge 2,500-3,000 BDT for just five minutes, and that too with the help of a speedboat," Maruf shared. "That’s when I planned to fly independently with an engine strapped to my back."

He first built a remote-controlled paraglider for testing, and about a year ago began constructing the larger one. After practicing piloting techniques for several days, he eventually succeeded. However, engine issues later forced him to rely on manual launching by pulling against the wind. Maruf now dreams of offering aerial sightseeing experiences for tourists.

"If I get government support, I could commercially produce paragliders within 100,000 BDT each," Maruf said. "I am working to enhance the safety features. I hope the government or administration won't obstruct me, but rather assist me."

Villagers have expressed their pride. Sajjadur Rahman (38), a resident of Khajurtala who lives in Dhaka, said, "I recently visited home and witnessed Maruf’s flying. Even though he assembled different parts from the market, it’s praiseworthy because it could successfully carry a person into the sky." He further added, "If the government supports this initiative, it would bring affordable products to the market and benefit both Maruf and the country economically."

According to locals, Maruf was always fascinated with creating things since childhood. Witnessing him actually fly his invention has made the entire village proud. In addition to the paraglider, Maruf has also built air coolers and electrical therapy machines.

Imran Mia (29), another villager, said, "Initially, we doubted his success. But when we saw him take off, we were astonished. The entire village feels proud."

Md. Moazzem Hossain, Chairman of Charbishnupur Union Parishad, said, "I first learned about Maruf's innovation through the media. His success shows that one can achieve great things by learning through mobile phones. I will look into his situation and urge the authorities to provide him with training and financial support so he can continue his innovations."

Sadarpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Zakia Sultana praised Maruf’s achievement, saying, "What Maruf has made through his own efforts is truly commendable. He sets an excellent example for the youth, showing that success is achievable through determination." She added, "If Maruf receives training through the Ministry of Science and Technology, he could go very far. I will soon inform the ministry through proper channels about his work."

For context, a paraglider is a lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no engine. In 1952, Domina C. Jalbert developed multi-cellular, controllable gliding parachutes that improved lateral control, and he later patented the parafoil in 1963. Around the same time, David Barish was working on the "Sail Wing" project for NASA's space capsule recovery. In 1954, Flight magazine predicted a future where pilots would launch gliders from mountain slopes — a vision that innovators like Maruf are bringing closer to home.