Netrakona Correspondent :
Several hundreds blacksmiths in the district are passing busy times with making sharp tools to be used for slaughtering sacrificial animals on the holy Eid-ul-Azha.
Reports said many people are crowding to the shops of blacksmiths for manufacturing different iron made tools including machetes, choppers, knives, spade, axe and scissors.
Many people are also having their old equipment repaired and sharpened by blacksmiths.
Blacksmiths are now selling a knife at taka 300 to 400, a chopper at taka 350 to 600, a machete at taka 400 t0 800 and a spade at taka 300 to 500.
Talking to BSS, over a dozen of blacksmiths of the district town and its adjoining areas said the demand of their products increases ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha but its demand goes fall significantly after the Eid festival.
They can earn profit during the Eid-ul-Azha season but they become almost jobless after the Eid festival, they said.
They drew the attention of the state-run commercial banks for giving them loan to expand their business with making modern equipment.
Some octogenarian blacksmiths of the Satpai area in the district town informed that their business was very profitable over three decades ago when there was tremendous demand for iron made tools and equipment including sharp ploughs, spades, knives, sickles and spikes on the wheels of cattle-driven cart and axes.
However, now, the demand of those iron made tools and equipment have decreased due to introduction of mechanical ploughs, tractors, power tillers, harvesters and many others steel-made modern equipment, they said.
In the wake of the present situation, many blacksmiths, who used to earn their livelihood by manufacturing the iron-tools and agricultural equipment, are now opting for other professions, they added.
