Potters in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj are now living a depressing life. Once upon a time, clay plates, utensils, pots, pots, pots, bowls, toys, etc. were used as everyday necessities, but this industry has collapsed due to the touch of modernity and the inability to survive in competition with other things including modern-day plastic materials. However, everyone involved in this profession in Sirajdikhan said that since the Corona pandemic, the Baisakhi Fair is no longer being held as before. For this reason, about 200 families in Sirajdikhan have now increased their interest in leaving the traditional pottery industry and moving to other professions.About 200 families in Basail, Rashunia, Rajanagar and Shekharnagar unions of the upazila are involved in pottery.Ganga Rani Pal, a 60-year-old woman from Basail Pal Para village of Basail Union, said, "My father's house is in Nawabganj police station of Dhaka district. My grandparents were involved in pottery. Now I have been working in the same profession in my husband's house for about 40 years. However, there was a time when Baisakhi fairs were held in different areas of the village on the occasion of the 1st of Baishakh. There was a huge demand for clay furniture. Now the fairs are not held like before. Because of this, our sales are not as good as before."About 60 families in Basail Pal village have a deep relationship with the soil. On Saturday, during a field visit to Basail Palpara village, it was seen that men and women were sitting in the courtyard, some mixing water with the soil to soften the clay, some drying clay objects in the sun, some burning clay furniture. Many others were busy painting objects.

What is the fate of these people? In the age of technology, cheap plastic has taken the place of various clay items, and there are no village fairs like before, so the traditional pottery of rural Bengal is disappearing due to the lack of demand for clay furniture in the market. Still, many people are clinging to this industry with their skills, saying it is the profession of their fathers and grandfathers.

Kali Pad Pal (65) said, "The value of clay items has decreased. The fair is not held on the 1st of Baishakh like before, and the demand for plastic items has increased. That is why clay artisans have become unemployed. Many have changed their professions, some are working as goldsmiths, some are working abroad, and some are even working as blacksmiths. We do this work because our grandparents used to do it, but somehow we survive."

Sirajdikhan Upazila Executive Officer Shahina Akhter said, 'Pottery is the heritage of rural Bengal. We want pottery to survive. If there is any opportunity for government assistance to sustain pottery, it will definitely be done.