Price hike of raw materials hits blacksmiths of Rangpur

RANGPUR, Jan 22: Blacksmiths of the district are passing days in acute misery as price hike of raw materials has been affecting their business in recent years.

According to sources prices of raw materials such as iron, coal and fuel have increased abnormally in recent years, consequently the blacksmiths are facing serious difficulties in continuing their business.

Moreover, they never get fair prices for their products due to lack of marketing facilities. Hence, they are often compelled to sell their products at prices less than the production costs.

Earlier, there were 2,500 blacksmith families in 8 upazilas of the district but at present the number has come down to about 500. Many of them had forsaken their ancestral profession and had taken up new jobs.

Siraj Mia, a blacksmith at Kamarpara area in Rangpur city told The Financial Express that they have to struggle a lot to earn their livelihood during 9-10 months in the year. They can make good profit only on the eve of festival like Eid, as their income increases considerably during the time.

Easy term bank loan could help them make more iron-made products for its marketing and thus they might find the way for their survival, he added.

In this situation, the surviving black smith families have urged the government to provide them adequate loans for saving their ancestral profession.

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