Traditional Baul musical instrument makers need financial support

Traditional Baul musical instrument makers in Kushtia have called for financial support to expand their businesses.

 Thousands of instrument makers manufacture around 4,000 varieties of instruments everyday at about 50 small factories.  The business is a source of livelihood to above 250 families.

The whole area has been developed based on Baul Fakir Lalon Shah's akhra bari (den) for the years contemporary to the mystic legends. Some villages like Cheuria, Mondolpara, Joynabad have earned fame for making the instruments.

“We have reached a certain level; now we need financial backing if we want to move  forward." said” Amirul Islam Badsha, owner of Ektara Bari, the largest instrument making factory in the area.

Amirul envisages that their business will grow when there is sizeable economic growth.

The Baul musical tradition incorporates a number of musical instruments include ektara, dotara, dhol, mandira, banshi, khol, khamak and dung. Other percussion instruments include the baya or khol drum, and small cymbals called kartal and manjira. The dugi is a small handheld earthen drum.

A market called Akhra bari market with some 100 shops for the sale of such instruments has been set up outside the main gate of Lalon's shrine.

According to instrument-makers, they look forward to the two festivals when their sales are at their peak.

 “We make all of the instruments in our factory and supply these to the Akhra market and different parts of the country according to demand,” said Azhar Uddin alias Pillad Mistri of Cheuria village, the village where the Lalon shrine is located.

The demand for instruments has increased manifold, said Nasir Uddin, owner of Nishita Ektara Factory.

Nasir , however, sees the need for a government loan for business expansion.

MD. Shahinuzzaman, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Kumarkhali told this correspondent that government could possibly bring the factory owners under the state-owned Ekti bari Ekti Khamar (One Home, One Farm) project and advance them small loans.

“The matter can be considered,” he said adding that “I will talk to the concerned authorities,” said Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Kushtia Zahir Raihan.