Md A Rahim Sajal, Mirzaganj
The blacksmiths of Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali are busy with jingle-jangle sound ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. The blower of the blacksmith is running while coal and iron are burning. The blacksmiths are making various tools for cutting meat including Boti, Da and knives by beating iron with a hammer.
Although the sale is lesser due to the corona situation currently, they are left with a sad face even after working for the whole day. Even then, the blacksmiths are busy with new hopes, keeping in mind the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The blacksmith's quarters uttered the sound of hammers and iron. This busyness will continue till the day of Eid. However, due to the increase in the price of everything including coal and iron, the profit is not the same as before but, many have said they are working to keep their accessorial trade afloat.
The blacksmiths are working from morning to night in every blacksmith shop of the upazila. Every year on the Eid-ul-Azha, the sale of their goods increases. With the money earned from this he procured food for the whole year. However, most of the year, those involved in the blacksmith industry spend idle time.
Talking to some people, it is known that every year on the Eid-ul-Azha, the demand for various items made of iron including Da, Boti, Chapati and knife increases and they earn good income around this season but, this time there is frustration.
Due to the Corona situation, it can be said that there is no trade at all. Now their hopes are closer to the time of sacrifice if sales actually increase slightly. They have been making one thing after another without stopping for that purpose. Gopal Karmakar of Subidkhali Bazar said he had to work day and night for 15 to 20 days before the sacrifice every year. However, this year they could not make anything as their shops were closed for 14 days in Lockdown.
“However, now the work pressure is very high and the sales are fair which is expected to increase in the next 2 to 3 days. So I am working day and night to make Da-Boti, knife, Chapati etc. I could earn Tk 1 lakh to 1.5 lakh by doing this work every year. When we had to keep the shop closed for so long no one cared for us and we did not even get any help”, he added.
Nepal Karmakar said it was very difficult to run the family as the shop was closed due to the lockdown. Now I am opening a shop but there is no sale and a few days after Eid. Every time at this time there is a rush of sales, but this time there is no sale.
However, he said that in a day or two, the rate of trade will rise.
