Potters in peril

A potter at work in Chapainwabganj. Photo: STAR

Meneka Rani Paul, 45, of Chunaripara village of Baroghoria union in Sadar Upazila of Chapainawabganj district is facing food hardship. Her five sons and two daughters are all involved in their traditional pottery business. In early days, they could earn good living by selling their products locally and to other districts. But their traditional pottery products have lost their markets.
Another potter, Saptomi Paul, 43, of Natun bazar has sold out her house recently due to poverty and now living in a khas land (empty govt. land) near the road side at the area. Her family has no other options. Currently, she earns only Tk. 90 to 100 a day, which is less than any other daily laborers.
Pottery, on of the most traditional industries in the country, is in the verge of extinction in Chapainawabganj for the lack of marketing facilities and price hike of raw materials. The situation is pushing the potters into hardship and compelling many to leave their ancestral profession.
The potters usually manufacture costing pot, plate and some age-old domestic utensils; latrine rims and ground well, which had been in use in the country for centuries. But introduction of plastic, steel and melamine, these traditional earthen potteries are gradually being unused.
Most of the families, especially in the rural areas hardly use potteries. Over 150 families live in Natun Bazar, Chunaripra, Bazar Para and Puraton Bazar of Baroghoria Union of Sadar Upazila in Chapainawabganj.
Great number of potters have left the traditional profession as their product are not being sold in the local markets because of wide demand of plastic, steel and melamine goods, said Godadhar Paul, a potter of Chunaripara village. The prices of raw materials like mud, fuel wood, and colour has gone up to a level that does not cover the production cost, he added. Godadhar also said, earlier, they used to take paddy from the farmers in exchange of their products. But now, most prefer purchasing the earthen pots in cash that incur higher transportation and their cost.
Describing the their hardship, another potter Khagen Chandra Paul of Natun bazar said a potter can hardly earn Tk. 80 to Tk.100 a day which is not enough to maintain a family. They are leaving this profession and trying to join other professions like; rickshaw and van puling, working as a day labourers for their survivals.
Potters urged to the government and non-government organizations to save their traditional pottery business thus saving the lives of hundreds of pottery businessmen in Chapainawabganj district.