With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, sales of knives, bonti (curved blades), cleavers and other metal tools used for the sacrifice have picked up in Khulna's markets. But this time foreign knives and cleavers have taken the place of locally made tools.

A visit to the markets found shiny, light, sharp tools imported from China and India taking the place of bonti and cleavers made by local blacksmiths. Because these foreign tools look relatively attractive and are also somewhat cheaper, buyers are leaning towards them.

Locally made cleavers, dao and bonti are sold by the kilo, and knives by the piece according to size. They sell for Tk 350 to Tk 400 a kilo. A medium-sized cleaver costs up to Tk 600-700 depending on quality, and larger ones cost more because of their weight.

Foreign cleavers of various sizes, meanwhile, are available for Tk 300 to Tk 1,000, and knives for Tk 100 to Tk 300.

Sellers of locally made tools at Boro Bazar said many blacksmiths in Daulatpur, Sonadanga, Khalishpur and Phultala used to get extra work in the Eid season, but they are now getting fewer orders. Their own wholesale and retail sales are also down, and they cannot place orders with the blacksmiths' quarter.

Retailers say foreign knives, bonti and cleavers are steadily taking the place of local tools. Foreign tools are cheaper, look better and are easier to use, so they have become buyers' choice. But the extra demand for foreign tools is creating a risk for local industry. There are now almost no sales of locally made knives, bonti and cleavers; everyone is going for foreign tools. The blacksmiths have become completely listless, with almost no work.

Rabiul Islam, a blacksmith at Notun Bazar, said local tools are sturdy, but many buy foreign ones for their shiny look. There are no orders as before. With wholesale orders there is plenty of work, but that is shrinking day by day.

Ganesh Roy, owner of Ganesh Store, a seller of local tools at Boro Bazar, said sales of local tools have not picked up yet this time. Orders from wholesale buyers from far away are comparatively low. Sales of cleavers, knives and bonti used to be heavy at the sacrifice, but have fallen over the past two or three years.

Tarikul Islam, owner of Messrs Gazi Brothers, said among foreign tools, cleavers and knives are now in greater demand. Buyers purchase foreign tools for household use because they are easy to use and maintain.

Buyer Masud Bhuiyan said local bonti are good, but foreign ones are much lighter, sharper and easier to store. Though he bought a local cleaver for the sacrifice, he has to buy foreign cleavers and knives for home use, which he said are of good quality.

Rafiqul Islam, who came to Boro Bazar to buy tools for the sacrifice, said he bought an iron bonti and a foreign cleaver to replace his old bonti and cleaver. The bonti cost Tk 380 by the kilo and the foreign cleaver Tk 370.

Housewife Sadia Afrin said keeping an iron bonti clean is a lot of trouble, and iron knives rust quickly, so she bought a foreign cleaver and a slicing knife, which are much more convenient to use.

Sourav Hossain, a retailer from Batiaghata, said he has come to buy some local cleavers and foreign tools at wholesale prices to sell retail. Local tools are a little more expensive this time than last, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.