Over one hundred artisans of Shakha, a white bangle made of 'Conch Shell', of village Jamnagar under Bagatipara upazila of Natore district are facing an acute financial crisis due to non-selling of their products during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Many of the artisan families were often starving and failing to repay loan they drew from various NGOs.
According to sources, Jamnagar Shakha Palli (village) is an ancient village where more than one hundred artisans belonged to Banik community are engaged in making of Shakha, a white bangle made of Conch Shell which the Hindu women wear in both hands during the time of their marriage.
Shakha forms an integral part of the wedding customs and it is worn by the bride in the wedding hours of the marriage day amidst rituals and customs. The Hindu housewives wear these Shakha until the death of their husbands.
Sources informed, by making and selling Shakha, the artisans of the village used to maintain their families happily. But, due to Coronavirus, they are in a dire condition. Due to lock-own and mess in communication, the Shakha traders are not visiting the village to purchase the products and local Shaka traders and artisans are incurring a huge loss with a huge stock of their products at home.
It is learnt, the Shaka or bangle and ring are prepared by cutting and shaping the special type of Conch Shell. Those conch shells are collected from sea-shore areas of the country and are also imported from India and Sree Lanka. Male artisans cut those Conch shells in the machine to make bangles and ring and the female artisans with their expert hands engraved attractive designs on those bangles or on the rings.
The rituals of Pooja of the Hindu religion start with the blowing of the melody of Conch Shells. The dust of conch shells is also used in making of cosmetics.
Keshob Chandra Sen, a Shakha trader, said that the Shakha traders were spending very bad days. The communication system has been broken down due to the impact of Coronavirus resulting in the Shakha materials worth millions of Taka unsold. As a result, all the people of the village were suffering from an acute financial crisis.
Artisans Sree Joy Sen and Hasi Rani Sen informed, they were engaged in Shakha industry for generations and never felt any want in their family but due to Coronavirus situation they have been suffering from an acute financial crisis for the last three-month.
Abdul Quddus, Chairman of Jamnagar Union Parishad informed, from the district, upazila and the Union Parishad, families engaged in Shakah industries have been given financial and food assistance and they will get further assistance in phases.
