Blacksmiths very busy before Eid-Ul-Ajha

Our Correspondent | Published: September 03, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

PABNA, Sep 2: Blacksmiths are busy sharpening knives on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims throughout the world. They are busy making knives, machetes and choppers for slicing the flesh of sacrificial animals.
According to Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), Pabna office and others source said, there were over 445 blacksmiths in the district 25-30 years ago but now their number has come down to around 200.
Blacksmith Abdul Matin at Aowtapara under Pabna sadar upazila said only this time in the year the demand of their products increases centring Eid-ul-Azha. Blacksmiths make indispensable household and agricultural appliances like chopper, axe, knife, crowbar, chisel, hammer, saw, spade, cleaver, yoke, shovel, blade, hook, mallet, punch, nail, hoe, sickle, pickaxe etc for the people demand, he added.
"We are expecting higher sale of our products ahead the Eid-ul-Azha," he told this correspondent.
While visiting a densely populated area in Kalidah-Betepara under Pabna sadar upazila this correspondent found that all are passing busy moments in making and selling their products.
Probir Kumar Shaha, a 55 years old blacksmith of the area said, "We remain workless around 10 months in the year but on the arrival of Eid-ul-Azha we become happy."
Blacksmith Bibhuti Kumar Karmokar of the Kalidah-Betepara Kamarpara in the sadar upazila told The Financial Express that bank loan on easy term might help them make more iron-made goods for marketing in various haats, bazaars and fairs.
Bikas Chandra, a blacksmith from Sujanagar Dakkhinpara village under Sujanagar upazila said a decline in the demand of their products, lack of skilled craftsmen, high prices of raw materials like charcoal, files, cast-iron, steel and other inputs hiked the production cost making their profession a tough one.
Gobinda Kumar Karmokar of Baraipara Kamar Para under Sadar upazila this correspondent found that all are passing busy moments in making and selling their products.
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