Blacksmiths in Sylhet busy as Eid nears

Like elsewhere in the country, blacksmiths in Sylhet city are busy making sharp tools for slaughtering sacrificial animals and preparing their flesh, with the Eid-ul-Azha approaching.

The demand for machetes, choppers, knives and other iron-made tools is on the rise.

The price of the sharp tools varies depending on quality and quantity of the iron. A machete is priced between Tk 450 and Tk 1,000, a butcher knife between Tk 250 and Tk 400, a small knife between Tk 80 and Tk 250 and cleavers between Tk 350 and Tk 550.

While visiting Kazirbazar and Mirabazar areas in the city yesterday, this correspondent found the blacksmiths passing busy time making and selling such tools.

Mohibul Islam, a blacksmith at Kazirbazar, said, “The demand for these tools increase during Eid.”

Another blacksmith Niranjan Karmakar said, “People also bring their damaged tools here so that we can repair those.”

Blacksmith Bijon Karmakar said usually they earn Tk 500 to Tk 1,000 a day. But ahead of Eid their incomes get a boost, rising to over Tk 10,000.

Echoing him, Mithun Karmakar, another blacksmith in the area, said smithies which remain jobless around 10 months in a year are now bustling with activities.

Alongside knife makers and sellers, knife sharpeners are also seeing a boost in business. They are sharpening knives and cleavers at Tk 80 to 100 per piece.

Other essential components for slaughtering sacrificial animals -- tree trunks, bamboo mats and bags for cattle waste -- are also in high demand in the markets.

Though the blacksmiths are passing busy times ahead of Eid, worries still remain for them.

Many said price of raw materials such as iron, charcoal, wood were increasing every year. If they were able to get banks loans on easy terms, it might help them make and market the tools easily.