Blacksmiths in the district are passing busy time making sharp tools used for slaughtering sacrificial animals and processing the meat, as the Eid-ul-Azha is only a few days away. Local people said many people are thronging the shops of blacksmiths for making different iron made tools including machetes, choppers, knives, spades, axes and scissors. Apart from this, people are also having their old equipment/tools repaired or sharpened by the blacksmiths. Blacksmiths are now selling a knife at taka 500 to 600, a chopper at taka 800 to 900, a machete at taka 700 t0 800 and a spade at taka 700 to 900. Talking to this BSS correspondent, over 50 blacksmiths of the district said that the demand of the animal slaughtering sharp equipment have increased ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha festival. "We can earn more profit by selling our products during the Eid-ul-Azha, but we pass idle times after the Eid festival", they said. Recalling their past golden days, some old-aged blacksmiths of the Satpai area in the dis trict town informed that their business was very profitable over three decades ago when there was huge demand for iron made tools and equipment including sharp ploughs, spades, knives, sickles and spikes on the wheels of cattle-driven cart and axes. Some blacksmiths said decrease in the demand of their products, lack of skilled craftsmen, high prices of raw materials including charcoal, files, cast-iron, steel and other inputs have hiked the production costs, making their profession a tough one. 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 changing their profession, they informed. . They underlined the need for drawing attention of the concerned authorities including commercial banks for giving them loan to expand their business with making modern equipment. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
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