Hard days for Kurigram bamboo craft artisans

Artisans of bamboo items are worried due to low sales and absence of customers in the district's weekend haats (markets) as they do not have any alternative source of income.

Very little sale is compelling them to maintain their families by taking loans. Some of them go to Dhaka for earning money during this time of the year.

Some artisans at Kathalbari haat in Sadar upazila told this correspondent about their work and seasonal hard time (July to September) when he recently visited the haat and saw no customers.

They make bamboo products like darki (tool for catching fish), ghorpa (cage for keeping poultry), pigeon cage, duli (large pot for keeping paddy), winnowing-tray, winnowing-fan, winnowing-net, mat, hand-fan, basket,  jhapi (large hat) and dari-palla (scales).

Mozammel Haque, 55, of Barobari union in Lalmonirhat, said, “I bought one wicker tray for domestic use. In this season, there is no need for bamboo products, but I need to buy some bamboo items during paddy harvesting time every season.”

Mukul Chandra Das, 38, of Shibrum village in Kathalbari union under Sadar upazila said, “We maintain our families by making bamboo handicraft as we have no cultivable land. This is a permanent job for our Das community.”

“Most of our bamboo products are used in the agro-based works. Harvesting period of any crop is a good time for our business,” Mukul said.

“The products are made with makla variety of bamboo. Farmers normally do not sell bamboo as this season (June-August) is its reproduction period,” he added.

Sumon Chandra Das, 18, said, “Our family of nine members depends on the bamboo-craft business. All our family members are involved in producing bamboo items. We sell our products in various local markets.”

Taposh Tarani Das, 23, said, “I am passing a hard time now as our bamboo-craft business is not going well. So, I have decided to go to Dhaka for earning money by pulling rickshaw during the hard time (up to September).”

Artisans make household items with bamboo slates at Patnipara village in the upazila. PHOTO: Abdul Wahed

Bamboo artisan Radha Rani Das, 46, wife of Karendra Taroni Das of the village, said, “My family of nine members is maintained by making and sellingbamboo items. Now, the sale of our bamboo products has decreased a lot. Sometimes we take meals only once a day.”

“I have already taken loan of Tk 20,000 from my neighbours. I will repay it with interest after some months when I sell my products,” Radha Rani said.

“I do not know how to take loan for my handicraft business from a government organisation. I think I could bring solvency in my family if I got government loan for making bamboo-craft,” she added.