Home ›› 14 Sep 2021 ›› Nation
The art of making pottery has deep roots in our history. Unfortunately, today the art form is struggling to survive in the country.
As market demand has waned, the people are turning to cheaper substitutes like plastic and melamine. Potters are finding hard it hard to live trade.
According to local sources, , main livelihood of most people in Chikondi, Kotapara, Kalikhola, Ganganagar villages of Shariatpur Sadar, Kartikpur of Bhedorganj, Kailara of Damudhya upazilas were dependent on pottery making till 1980s. But now, for survival, the artisan has changed the way. At present, a few people run the business.
Some pottery artisans in the district are still trying to give sustainability of the industry as their ancestral business.
During a recent visit the areas, The Business Post found the artisans were busy making idols and pots for upcoming Durga Puja.
In the small village of Kartikpur, a centre for a dynasty of pottery artisans namely Pals and Kumars, have sustained the rare pottery industry in spite of the onslaught of technological advancements.
A host of pottery artisans in Kartikpur, namely Samir Pal, Pradip Pal, Sandip Pal, Gobind Pal, Jawahar Lal Pal and Uttam Pal, have a few factories set up in the region, where they create at least 3,000 items, including utensils, collectibles, and household products.
The items include terracotta shades, tiles, candle stands, flower vase, coin boxes, wall coverings, wall pots, visiting card boxes and scores of other such products.
Workers from neighbouring villages are recruited in the factories, breaking an age-old tradition of only Pal community members working in the craft.
Potters said they usually begin the process by gathering alluvial soil and mixing it water. The clay mixtures are then processed, using an imported filter from Germany and kept on a special pan for 20 days.
After 20 days, the excess water is drained and the clay formation that remains, known as mundu, is dried in the sun and mixed with very little water, forming the base for all their pottery items.
Previously, clients would market the products for the potters, but now they have taken over the marketing process themselves.
Artisan Sandip Kumar Pal said his family has been in the pottery business for generations. He was first inspired by an art faculty of then-Dhaka Art College in 1976 to show case his products and sell them in Dhaka and Chittagong.
After gaining exposure, he was approached by several NGOs and other agencies, who signed contracts with him to market his products further and beyond Bangladesh.
The agencies are now showcasing his products in countries across the world, fetching foreign currency in the process.
Uttam Kumar Pal, another pottery artisan, lamented that the production price of a night lamp is between Tk70-80, but sells for only Tk90-95. However, when it is sent to Dhaka it sells for anywhere between Tk400- Tk500.
Ramchandarpur UP Chairman Biplab Sikder said the products made by Shariatpur pottery artisans are now being exported to Europe, America and Canada due to huge great demand.
He sought government intervention for the sustainability of the industry.
Bhedarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Al Nasif said they will provide more technical support to the potters if they request their assistance, in terms of innovation, integrating technology into their trade, and financial support, if necessary.
