Mintu Abdur Rahman, Rangpur :
The blacksmiths of different areas under the district are now passing busy time as the holy Eid-ul-Azha is imminent.
Though the blacksmiths had to pass dull season even a month ago, presently they have become much busy with their works.
Visiting Kamapara area in the city on Sunday this correspondent found the blacksmiths busy making and sharpening knife, Machetes, choppers, axe, blade, spade, cleaver, shovel, hook, mallet, etc according to demand of the customers.
A number blacksmiths said, they remain jobless around 9-10 months in the year but ahead of Eid-ul-Azha their activities get momentum. Currently they have huge burden of works, so they have to work from morning to night. The work pressure is likely to increase to a great extent during upcoming days, they further said.
Sources alleged a good number of blacksmiths left their profession in recent years and the rest are struggling a lot for their survival due to various reasons including prices hike of raw materials like charcoal, cast-iron, steel and other inputs and lack of bank loan facilities. Some butchers at City Bazar and Kamal Kachna bazar area said they need to purchase and sharpen many sharp tools from blacksmiths as they will have to recruit some extra hands for working at the time of Eid.
According to sources the price of these sharp tools varies with the quality and quantity of the iron. At present Choppers are being sold at Tk 200 to Tk 600, Chapatis are selling at Tk 300 to Tk 900, butcher knives at Tk 100 to Tk 400, small knives at Tk 40 to Tk 80 and cleavers at Tk 150 to Tk 350.
