Why portable businesses suit Dhaka's footpaths

Customers arrive in waves: offices at nine, commuters at five. A portable business follows the waves instead of paying rent for the quiet hours in between.

Low setup cost and no rent mean less to recover before a business starts to earn for its owner.

The trade-off is exposure: weather, eviction and long hours on foot. That is why Jibika's equipment is designed to be light, quick to pack and easy to clean.