Jewellery sector in doldrums
Unstable gold prices and fall in demand among major reasons
UNB
With the slump in demand for gold ornaments and fall in their wages and job opportunities, many goldsmiths and artisans are opting either to leave their traditional profession or migrate to India, putting the countrys jewellery sector into jeopardy, reports UNB.
Jewellery traders and goldsmiths said the number of gold users is falling gradually due to the rise in gold price and easy availability of cheaper gold-plated imitation ornaments and stone-made ones.
Besides, they said, the jewellery sector has been losing its customers as the price of gold is much higher in Bangladesh compared to international market as well as neighbouring India for lack of any national gold policy here.
They said many jewellery shops at Tanti Bazar in the capital and different parts of the country have been closed over the last several years as the orders for gold ornaments have almost halved during the period, forcing many goldsmiths and artisans to switch to different other professions for livelihood.
According to Bangladesh Jewellery Samity, around 15,000 Sharna Shilpy (goldsmiths and artisans) were there only in Dhaka city 7-8 years ago, but the figure has now come down to only 4000-5000.
Besides, nearly 3.5 lakh people used to work as goldsmiths and artisans across the country 10 years back, but nearly one third of them quit the profession over the period.
The Samity leaders also said
around 10,000 traders are currently involved in jewellery sector across the country.
Talking to the news agency, vice president of Bangladesh Jewellery Samity Enamul Hoque Dolan said a large number of skilled goldsmiths, who had been involved in the sector from generation to generation, have already changed their profession while many of them left the country looking for better jobs.
On one hand the gold users have been decreasing and many people now prefer to buy imported readymade ornaments on the other, Dolan said. Weve information that many people are bringing gold ornaments from India through different illegal channels as the prices are lower there than in Bangladesh.
The Jewellery Samity leader thinks a well-thought-out national gold import and export policy is a must to protect the countrys jewellery sector and ensure welfare of the goldsmiths.
General secretary of Sharna Shilpi Sramik Shangha Dinesh Chandra Paul said the goldsmiths and artisans are now passing through a very critical time for lack of adequate orders from customers for making ornaments. Many of them are turning into small vendors like nut and puffed rice, vegetable sellers changing their profession while many skilled ones are migrating to the neigbouring country for better wage and employment.
Replying to a question, he said the young generation is not showing interest in engaging in their traditional profession as it is losing charm due to poorer wages compared to other professions.
Dinesh, who used to employ around 80-100 goldsmiths
at his jewellery factory
10 years back, has now only 12 workers due to drastic fall in demand for making gold ornaments.
Echoing Dinesh, Shipon Banik, owner of Shovo Jewellery at Tanti Bazar said though they have been in the business for generations, they are now facing a serious challenge to run it. Were now not getting sufficient orders from customers. Were also facing problem to get goldsmiths and artisans as theyre moving onto other professions.
He also said he wants his children, who are now studying, to either do good jobs or engage in other profit-making business instead of jewellery one.
Shipon Banik said he has now only two goldsmiths at his jewellery factory though
the number was 10 just five years ago.
Tanmoy Karmakra who has long been working at a jewellery shop at Baitul Mukarram Market said he is now receiving training to be a car driver as his current income by making ornaments is too little to support his five-member family.
Nikhil Jadob, who used to work as a goldsmith for the past 20 years at Tanti Bazar, has now started selling vegetables to support his family. There is hardly any ornament making order these days.
I engaged in this profession when I was just 12 years old. I used to earn Tk 10,000 to 12,000 a month barely 7-8 years back. But now its difficult to earn even Tk 4,000 per month, he added.
