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Most people living in Maheshpur village in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal are involved in the pottery making business.
The region is surrounded by canals rich with clay, the key ingredient for traditional pottery, making it fertile grounds for the nearly 250 families who established a name for themselves in this profession.
But like most other industries, the pottery business suffered heavy losses over the past year, when the government repeatedly imposed countrywide lockdowns in bid to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Wholesalers used to turn up in droves to buy pottery such as decorative plates and vases from the village but this practice came to a swift end owing to the slew of restrictions on public movement amid the coronavirus crisis.
With orders dwindling, most local pottery makers found it difficult to survive but now that the situation has slowly improved, sales are higher compared to even the pre-pandemic era.
Subhash Pal, a pottery trader in the area, said at least Tk 80 lakh worth of pottery ware was sent to different parts of the country, including Dhaka, Chattogram and Noakhali every month during the pre-pandemic era.
However, not one truck had arrived for these goods over the last two years due to Covid-19.
Now though, at least eight trucks come every month to carry pottery wares worth around Tk 8 lakh to Tk 10 lakh to markets all over the country, he added.
Although the demand for pottery products has increased exponentially, ensuring timely production and supply are seen as major challenges.
“We are not able to meet the increased demand due to a lack of capital,” said Shibu Pal, another pottery supplier.
Other than in Maheshpur, potters want to spread the business to other villages in Barishal, such as Madanpura and Boga of Patuakhali district, Kalsakathi of Bakerganj upazila and Gaila of Agailjhara upazila.
Tapan Pal of Shimuleshwar village in Jhalakathi district said the demand for pottery products has doubled over the past month.
Pottery makers had been suffering due to the long stagnation affecting their work, Pal said, adding that he was able to supply goods worth at least Tk 60,000 in the last one month.
Bisweshwar Pal, president of the Baupal, Madanpura Pottery Association, said they were forced to lay off most of their employees during the initial coronavirus outbreak.
He went on to say that almost all of them have been reemployed because of the rising orders, with at least 300 workers now involved in the industry.
Rupak Pal, a potter from Kalsakathi, said people of other professions received financial support amidst the Covid-19 but potters did not.
As such, Mritshilpi Sammelon-o-Sammanana, an organisation of clay artisans, had urged the government to provide low interest loans to save the industry.
Bappi Majumder, member secretary of the organisation, said at least 4,000 to 5,000 people in Barishal engaged in pottery do not receive any government support.
“They suffered during the coronavirus period and now, they want to turn things around with financial support,” he added.
Jalish Mahmood, deputy general manager of the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) office in Barishal, said if potters want help as small and medium enterprises, the BSCIC could make recommendations for them.
He advised them to work as entrepreneurs availing a trade licence.
(TDS)
