Knives, cleavers and choppers sell modestly throughout the year in traditional blacksmith markets, but ahead of Eid-ul-Adha these shops usually spring to life. However, the usual bustle and vibrancy of the Eid market appears to be fading.
Rising online shopping is reshaping buying patterns, with many customers now preferring to order these items online instead of visiting traditional markets.
Kamar Patti in Karwan Bazar has around 30 blacksmith stalls waiting for customers, with some traders also setting up cutting tools shops ahead of Eid-ul-Adha. Many blacksmiths are busy crafting sharp tools used for slaughtering sacrificial animals and processing meat.
However, retailers said footfall is lower than expected, with many blaming advance bulk purchases by online traders nearly a month before Eid-ul-Adha and subsequent online resale at almost double the price. With fewer customers visiting markets, traditional sellers are unable to earn usual Eid profits.
They said higher coal and electricity costs have slightly pushed up prices, though the rise is not significantly different from previous years and has had little impact on footfall compared to other factors.
They added that average monthly sales stand at Tk20,000 to Tk30,000, with Eid-ul-Adha sales typically doubling each year. While the period still brings higher sales and profit, overall performance remains weaker than in previous years as more customers shift to online shopping.
Traditional shops vs online market
Md Rafi, a retailer at Karwan Bazar, said online-based sellers are increasingly affecting the traditional blacksmith market.
“These sellers often buy items wholesale and resell them at significantly higher prices, reducing customer footfall in traditional markets. Although quality products are being produced, sales have weakened.” He told TIMES of Bangladesh. Only a small number of traders can use digital platforms, while most remain excluded from online selling opportunities, leading to lost seasonal earnings ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, he added.
Rahul Ahmed, who operates the online platform and Facebook page “Exclusive Item,” said he buys products from local blacksmiths and resells them online. He said higher online prices reflect added costs such as Facebook boosting, advertising, packaging, transportation and product collection.
“People often think online sellers make huge profits because the prices seem higher. But after all operational expenses and a small profit margin of around Tk200 to Tk300, the actual profit is not very high,” he said.
Mohammed Ismail, a blacksmith at Bhola Sadar Karmashaleer Lohar Dokan in Karwan Bazar, said the shop operates on both online and offline platforms and now depends heavily on online customers. Cutting tools see low demand most of the year, but Eid-ul-Adha allows traders to nearly double their usual profits. “We receive around 40–50 online customers daily, while only 20 to 25 customers come directly to the market,” he said.
Another customer Rabel, while shopping in the local market, said physical markets offer more choice and allow buyers to inspect products directly, reducing fraud risks. However, he warned online buyers may be misled by counterfeit products. “Despite the extreme heat, I came here. Traditional Eid shopping, however, still offers a sense of enjoyment.”
Locally made vs imported tools
Shopkeeper Jahangir Alam of “Mayer Doa” said online resellers are not the main reason behind falling customers, adding that demand for locally made products has declined as people increasingly buy Chinese-made knives and cutting tools online.
Customer Mahbub Alam said most of his relatives bought Chinese-made knives and cleavers online ahead of Eid-ul-Adha. He noted growing dependence on online marketplaces due to busy routines and said constant social media promotion of Chinese-made tools is influencing buyers.
Atikur Rahman, owner of the online platform “Ayesha Store BD,” said the store sells both locally made and imported cutting tools, with Chinese-made products more popular. “People tend to believe Chinese products are more durable, which is why demand for those items is higher,” he said.
He added that online sales are reasonably good but profit margins remain limited due to transportation, taxes, advertising and packaging costs.
Economic pressure
Atikur Rahman also said sales have dropped this year compared to last year due to economic pressure, higher fuel prices and rising costs of everyday commodities. “Many people may not be sacrificing animals this year due to financial pressure, which is why sales have decreased compared to last year,” he added.
Apart from rising online shopping, sellers said other factors have also reduced customers, including the 8pm shop-closing order, which has affected evening sales as shoppers used to buy mostly at night in earlier years.
In previous years, customers from across Dhaka used to visit the area, but rising fuel costs have reduced travel from distant locations, pushing many towards online shopping. Still, traders in Kamar Patti remain optimistic that crowds will pick up in the remaining days leading up to Eid.
