Traditional blacksmiths in Bangladesh’s Mirsarai sub-district say demand for their hand-forged blades has slumped ahead of Eid-ul-Adha as households switch to cheaper factory-made steel tools.

In the old blacksmith quarters of markets such as Mithachhara Bazar, the ring of hammer on anvil still rises with the festival season, but craftsmen report that rising iron and coal prices have cut their margins while customers increasingly shun bespoke work. For nearly half a century, Mithachhara Bazar has produced daa, boti, knives, machetes and other tools used for sacrificial slaughter, supplying local and nearby markets. This year, they say, the seasonal uptick has brought little satisfaction.

Sujan Sutradhar, a smith at Bariyarhat Bazar, said he no longer makes tools in his shop. “I used to forge everything myself. Now I bring ready-made knives from Cumilla and sell them,” he said. Blades retail for BDT 150 to BDT 1,500 depending on size, but a custom-made knife would cost nearly double, he added.

Fellow craftsman Sajib Sutradhar said higher raw material costs have gutted profits. “Iron and coal prices have shot up. There’s a bit of work around Eid-ul-Adha. But for the rest of the year we often sit idle. Buyers have tilted toward ready-made goods, so the old bustle is gone,” he said.