With Eid-ul-Adha, one of the biggest religious festivals for Muslims, just around the corner, there’s a surge in demand for tools essential for animal sacrifice and meat preparation. These include knives, choppers, cleavers, and other sharp instruments. Blacksmiths in the Lohagara upazila of Chittagong are working tirelessly to meet this demand.

The blacksmiths are seen relentlessly hammering pieces of iron, glowing red-hot from the coal fire, to shape them into various tools. Their hands, feet, and faces are smudged with soot, and sweat pours down their bodies in the intense heat. Despite the exhaustion, they have one goal: to prepare for the upcoming Eid. They are crafting various iron tools for animal slaughter, skinning, and cutting meat and bones. As Eid-ul-Adha approaches, their workload intensifies.

Bustling Blacksmith Villages

A visit to the blacksmith villages in Lohagara upazila reveals a flurry of activity in markets like Padua Bazar, Nodorbashhat Bazar, Adhuniknagar Bazar, Bocharamba Nayabazar, Borohihatia Monufakirhat, Boklaujan Kanuram Bazar, and Putibila M. Charhat Bazar. While these blacksmiths might not have much work throughout the year, Eid-ul-Adha brings a significant increase in their business. Hammer blows echo as they shape red-hot cleavers, knives, and choppers. This intense activity is expected to continue for another week. Some are sharpening tools, while others assist their colleagues. Most are covered in grime, their clothes dirty. Comfort, baths, cleanliness, timely meals, and casual chats with colleagues are almost non-existent. Only work-related discussions or brief conversations with customers interrupt their focused labor.

Customers are flocking to buy these iron tools for animal sacrifice, with prices varying based on size. Buyers complain that the prices of knives, choppers, and cleavers are higher this year compared to previous years. Javed, who came to Padua Bazar to buy a knife and cleaver, said he bought a cleaver for 300 Taka and a knife for 130 Taka.

However, the sellers argue that the rising cost of living, including the increased prices of iron and coal, has driven up their production costs. Madok Karmokar, a blacksmith from Padua Bazar, stated that the prices of coal, iron, sharpening stones, and all other raw materials have increased significantly from last year, while their wages have not seen a proportional rise. He added that despite the increased cost of raw materials, they can’t raise the prices of their finished products accordingly. “Though we have had some work throughout the year, now we have to work even more,” he said. “In a word, the old glory of the blacksmith village has returned during this Eid season.”

Another businessman named Liton Karmokar mentioned that he has been involved in this profession for many years. While many have changed professions over time, he has remained a blacksmith due to a lack of experience in other fields. He acknowledged that while everything else has seen price increases and improved quality over time, their situation remains challenging.

Currently, a large cleaver sells for 320 to 450 Taka depending on weight and size, a chopper for 250 to 300 Taka depending on type, and various sizes of knives for 150 to 300 Taka. Smaller knives range from 30 to 100 Taka, and choppers from 200 to 400 Taka. Additionally, they charge customers for sharpening services based on the type of tool.