Gaibandha potters fighting for survival

GAIBANDHA, Jan 21: With the passage of time, traditional pottery industry in Gaibandha district is on the way of losing its necessity.

The potters here are now struggling to save their ancestral profession alongside facing acute financial hardship.

Their income has shrunk largely as the utensils made of aluminium and plastic are now replacing the earthen products made by them.

According to Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), barely one year ago, the district was home to around 1,000 potter families.

The number of potter families in the district has come down to approximately 250 in recent time.

Once the potter community dominated Badiakhali of Sadar upazila; Shibpur, Kalakopa, Dhutichora of Sundarganj upazila; Belka, Panchpir, Dhupani, Chandipur, Kanchibari, Sripur, and Dharmapur of Sadullapur upazila; Rasul, Damdarpur, Damdarpur, Harinathpur, Velakopa Chikar Mor; and Kochashahr, Arjishahpur and Shaktipur of Gobindganj upazila.

But now there are 750 families living in these areas of Gaibandha district.

During a recent visit to a pottery hub, this correspondent found many artisans were making different clay products, some were busy drying them in the sun, some were giving finishing touch to them with colours, and some were burning them in fire to make them durable.

Sunil Chandra Paul, a potter of Palpara in Harinathpur union of Palashbari upazila, said, "Despite the increasing demand for household utensils made of plastic and aluminium, we are still continuing with our ancestral profession amid hardship."

Rani Paul, another potter of the same area, said, "I used to sell various items made of clay in villages. Among them were earthen pots, pans, plates, sweet-yogurt pots, bowls, clay banks, vases, pen pots, burners and various toys including dolls. In the present era, almost all of these materials have been taken over by aluminium and plastic products".

Ananto Kumar Pal, a potter of Palpara in Badiyakhali of Gaibandha Sadar upazila said, "Soil is not available as often as before. Due to higher cost of bringing soil from far away, the prices are not affordable."

He further said, "Although there is some demand in the market, sales are low due to high prices. Because of this, it has become difficult to survive in this profession."

Nripendranath Sarkar, proprietor of Joy Vijay Variety Store in Gaibandhar Sadar Upazila, said, "Clay items break easily; which is why demand for these products has decreased. Customers are no longer buying earthenware. They now buy durable plastics and aluminium utensils which are available at much lower prices than pottery."

Founder Chairman of Gaibandha Entrepreneurs Forum Md Hafizur Rahman Babu said "Since they (potters) are not able to go to other professions, they are doing this work to save their lives. Training is needed to sustain this profession."

President of GCCI Bir Muktijoddha Moksudar Rahman Shahan, said, "The industry is lagging behind due to lack of funding. If the government patronises the sector providing training and financial support to the artisans, they will be able to survive as before."

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