She said that shankha of Shankhari Bazar is very famous in West Bengal, because of its unique design and craftsmanship.

"Relatives always ask for 'Dhakai Shankha' (as it is popularly known) for them whenever I come here," said Parul. "The artisans here are very skilled and finishing is excellent," said Parul.

Nickola M Banks, a Canadian, presently working here bought a pair of shankha impressed by its unique design, artistic look and beauty.

"I was impressed at its uniqueness and I was tempted into buying it because of the religious sentiments attached to the ornament," said Nickola.

It may seem that the shankha industry is prosperous, but in reality is this century old traditional and famous Dhakai Shankha industry is struggling for survival. Tight competition with Indian production counter-parts and excessive prices of raw materials are reasons for the struggle.

Businessmen blamed the high tariff, import duties and heavy tax on importing raw material for shankha as they have to pay a total of 35 percent tax and import duty on the raw material -- conch-shells from Sri Lanka.

"We import raw material worth Tk 4 to 5 crore a year and pay 35 percent on import taxes, but the figure drawn out of the taxes does not add much to the country's total revenue. If the taxes are reduced to five percent we could sell the shankha at 30 percent less than the present rate and which will in turn have a great impact on enlivening this business," said Omio Kumar Soor, treasurer, Shankha Shilpi Karigar Samity (SSKS).

He said that the high taxes have thrown them to face challenges from the Indian shankha that is smuggled into the country.

The present average price of a pair of shankha ranges between Tk 150 and 200 while the low quality Indian shankha is available from Tk 90 to 120.

"The middle and lower income Hindu groups buy the Indian shankha because they cannot afford to buy the ones made by us although our products better in quality," said Soor.

Only around 150 families are in the industry at present. Since the early 90's the numbers are decreasing while the new generation is not keen to enter the profession.

"We have only 10 workers here at present and each earns just Tk 70 to 100 a day. In the late 80's we were more than 70 workers and were earning Tk 200 to 250 each per day," said Haridas Dutta, a worker in the sole conch-shell cutting factory in Shankhari Bazar.

"The 30 to 35 existing shankha business houses in Shankhari Bazar are dependent on this factory for cutting. And this low volume of work-pressure shows how the business is deteriorating," said Omio Kumar Soor, treasurer, SSKS.

Customers blame high prices as the reason for the lack of interest in purchasing shankha.

"I bought only one pair of shankha on the eve of Durgapuja, but when prices were low, I bought them many times a year," said Roma Das, a Shankhari Bazar housewife.

Some craftsmen are still fighting to save the shankha industry by making various other items from conch-shell along with shankha.

Anup Kumar Nag designs necklaces, bangles, showpieces, wall hangings and many other decorative items from conch-shells.

"If people buy these ornaments to decorate their drawing rooms the shankha artists could survive and that is what I am trying to do," said Nag.

His son Bappy Kumar Nag who won Shilu-Abed Award presented by National Crafts Council Bangladesh for designing is also involved with the industry and helps his father to make his dream come true.

S R Osmani, chairman, Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) told Star City they could only take care of the industry only if it is registered with BSCIC.

"Unless they are enlisted with the corporation we cannot help them in preserving their rights and helping them to get their demands," Osmani said. One of BSCIC's main objectives is to accelerate the growth of small and cottage industries and increase its productivity.