The traditional pottery from Kushtia is now finding its way to international markets, including the Middle East and the US.
The art of pottery is on the verge of fading away with the passage of time. The market for pottery has now been overtaken by plastic and aluminum products.
However, members of the Kalyanpur Pottery Cooperative Society in Kumarkhali upazila are still creating modern, high-quality earthenware.
The products made here not only meet domestic demand but are also being exported to various countries.
In the village of Kalyanpur in Kumarkhali upazila, 40 members have established the Kalyanpur Pottery Cooperative Society.
On-site, around 60-70 men and women can be seen working with pottery.
Some are mixing soil and water to make clay, while others are crafting plates, bowls, earthen banks, teacups, and glasses.
After drying, some workers carefully clean the items.
Rajkumar, the manager of the cooperative, told Dhaka Tribune: "This industry has a rich history. In the past, pottery items were used in every household, ranging from pots and pans to everyday necessities. Here, we create various types of utensils using clay."
Chaitali Das, a worker who has been employed for three years, explained that her husband has passed away, and she has a daughter to support. With no other option, she chose this work to sustain her family.
Chaitali told Dhaka Tribune that she earns Tk3000 a month from her work.
Rani, another worker, said: "The salary we receive at the end of the month is spent on transportation, with one-third of it going toward travel costs. We have to manage our households with limited resources."
Abdul Latif, a customer who came to buy earthenware, said: "Pottery is an integral part of Bengali culture, with a thousand-year-old tradition. However, these products have almost disappeared. That’s why I’ve come to buy some items."
Botokrishna Pal, the director of Kalyanpur Pottery, said: "Around 60 to 70 workers are employed at my establishment. Currently, there is greater demand for this industry abroad than domestically. Particularly in the Middle East, the US, and several other countries, demand has surged. A businessman named Mofizul Islam from Dhaka exports products from here to Qatar, while another businessman, Hasan, exports to Saudi Arabia. Two other businessmen regularly send products from here to the US. However, sustaining this industry using traditional machinery is almost impossible."
He further said: "To keep up with modern times, we need modern machinery. However, due to a lack of necessary capital, it’s not possible to purchase such machinery. As a result, we are unable to meet the demand for products. Despite repeated requests, neither the cooperative department nor any government agency has provided the required support."
Anisur Rahman, the cooperative officer of Kushtia district, said: "With the advancement of technology, the use of traditional pottery has decreased significantly. This industry has been overtaken by plastic and other products. However, it is encouraging that Kushtia's earthen products are now showing new promise."
He told Dhaka Tribune: "A project has been submitted to Dhaka for the development of this industry and the necessary support. However, it has not yet been approved. We hope that, if the project is implemented, this pottery industry will regain its former glory."
