Blacksmiths spending busy time in Rajshahi

With a couple of days left for the Holy Eid-ul-Azha, blacksmiths and the knife sharpeners in Rajshahi are now spending busy time with their jobs.

Though most of the blacksmiths and knife sharpeners of the city remained almost jobless during other months, they are now extremely busy with making knives, dao, hasua and other cutting tools by burning iron rod and beating those with hammer.

At the same time, the knife sharpeners are moving door to door to sharpen knives and other tools and were busy with their jobs as well.

The hastiness of the black smithy and the knives sharper will continue till to the night before the Eid-ul-Azha.

Black smiths in Kantakhali Bazaar area said most of the black smiths of the country have turned jobless due to abnormal increase of price of raw-materials and advent of light, low cost, readymade knives and cutting tools in the markets. As a result; people are now reluctant to purchase knives, choppers and axes made locally by the black smiths.

Yet some people still visit the black smiths to repair or re-sharpen their knives and tools ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.

Ramiz Uddin, a blacksmith of Newmarket area of the city; said now-a-days, almost all readymade tools are available in the markets. As a result, the number of professional black smiths is decreasing day by day.

Many of the blacksmiths have also abandoned their paternal profession and switched to other jobs.

But, during the Eid-ul-Azha, many blacksmiths returned to their old profession to make a brisk business.

 Specially, one week before the Eid, they remained extremely busy. During this week, they earn more than a half of their income of the entire year, he added.

Uttam Kumar Karmaker of Newmarket area said he was helping his father at his workshop because of rush of the Eid. He further mentioned, all of their family members remained happy during this time of the year but they also feel disappointed by thinking about the days after the Eid.

Blacksmith Mynul Islam from Natore was sharpening knives and boti at a house in Sagarpara of the city.

He said “He earned over taka 2,000 daily by sharpening knives and other cutting tools in houses of the city. For the last couple of days, his earning was satisfactory and hoped to continue his work in full swing till night before Eid-ul-Azha.

It is learnt; more than 200 blacksmith groups are doing their business in different areas of the district as an ancestral profession.

Ibrahim Hossain, a blacksmith of Sagarpara Bottola area of the city, said finding a butcher on first two days of Eid is a very difficult task so people give preference to sacrifice animals themselves to follow the Sunnah and avoid inconvenience.

“We are expecting higher sale of our products ahead the Eid-ul- Azha,” Hossain said.

Meanwhile, the price of these sharp tools varies with the quality and quantity of the iron. Currently, ‘Chapatis’ are selling at Tk. 400 to 1200, butcher knives at Tk 250 to 800, small knives at Tk. 50 to 300 and cleavers at Tk. 250 to 500.

Blacksmiths spending busy time in Rajshahi

With a couple of days left for the Holy Eid-ul-Azha, blacksmiths and the knife sharpeners in Rajshahi are now spending busy time with their jobs. Though most of the blacksmiths and knife sharpeners of the city remained almost jobless during other months, they are now extremely busy with making knives, dao, hasua and other cutting tools by burning iron rod and beating those with hammer. At the same time, the knife sharpeners are moving door to door to sharpen knives and other tools and were busy with their jobs as well. The hastiness of the black smithy and the knives sharper will continue till to the night before the Eid-ul-Azha. Black smiths in Kantakhali Bazaar area said most of the black smiths of the country have turned jobless due to abnormal increase of price of raw-materials and advent of light, low cost, readymade knives and cutting tools in the markets. As a result; people are now reluctant to purchase knives, choppers and axes made locally by the black smiths. Yet some people still visit the black smiths to repair or re-sharpen their knives and tools ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha. Ramiz Uddin, a blacksmith of Newmarket area of the city; said now-a-days, almost all readymade tools are available in the markets. As a result, the number of professional black smiths is decreasing day by day. Many of the blacksmiths have also abandoned their paternal profession and switched to other jobs. But, during the Eid-ul-Azha, many blacksmiths returned to their old profession to make a brisk business. Specially, one week before the Eid, they remained extremely busy. During this week, they earn more than a half of their income of the entire year, he added. Uttam Kumar Karmaker of Newmarket area said he was helping his father at his workshop because of rush of the Eid. He further mentioned, all of their family members remained happy during this time of the year but they also feel disappointed by thinking about the days after the Eid. Blacksmith Mynul Islam from Natore was sharpening knives and boti at a house in Sagarpara of the city. He said He earned over taka 2,000 daily by sharpening knives and other cutting tools in houses of the city. For the last couple of days, his earning was satisfactory and hoped to continue his work in full swing till night before Eid-ul-Azha. It is learnt; more than 200 blacksmith groups are doing their business in different areas of the district as an ancestral profession. Ibrahim Hossain, a blacksmith of Sagarpara Bottola area of the city, said finding a butcher on first two days of Eid is a very difficult task so people give preference to sacrifice animals themselves to follow the Sunnah and avoid inconvenience. We are expecting higher sale of our products ahead the Eid-ul- Azha, Hossain said. Meanwhile, the price of these sharp tools varies with the quality and quantity of the iron. Currently, Chapatis are selling at Tk. 400 to 1200, butcher knives at Tk 250 to 800, small knives at Tk. 50 to 300 and cleavers at Tk. 250 to 500.