Madaripur’s centuries-old pottery tradition is fading as demand for earthenware declines, prompting calls for urgent support to preserve the craft and sustain livelihoods tied to it.
Once a key centre of traditional pottery, areas across the district, including Sadar, Rajoir, Kalkini, Dasar and Shibchar, relied heavily on clay utensils for daily use.
The widespread use of plastic, steel, ceramic and porcelain products has sharply reduced demand, pushing the craft towards extinction.
Local residents said immediate steps are needed to protect the heritage industry and support artisans struggling to survive.
In Shibchar’s Bhadrasan Pal Para, septuagenarian artisan Bhobonath Pal continues to shape clay into pitchers, glasses, toys and decorative items using a traditional wheel.
He forms the base structures by hand and wheel, then etches floral, leaf and bird motifs onto the semi-dry clay before firing and colouring the finished products.
Each item is dried under the sun, fired in kilns and later painted before being sold at village fairs during the Bengali new year.
The approach reflects a craft passed down through generations, yet its future now appears uncertain.
Not only Bhobonath Pal, but many artisan families across the district remain busy ahead of Pohela Boishakh, with both men and women engaged in production.
However, the number of pottery households has steadily declined.
Residents said the lack of raw materials, inadequate infrastructure and rising competition from modern alternatives have made survival increasingly difficult.
In Bhadrasan Pal Para alone, around 200 families were once engaged in pottery, which fell to 60 to 70 families a decade ago.
Now, only about 20 to 30 families continue the trade, largely due to a lack of alternative skills.
Rajoir Tekerhat Pal Para artisan Horohori Das said many have already shifted to other occupations due to poor demand.
“Sales are now mostly limited to new year fairs, unlike before when earthen products were widely used,” he said.
Shibchar Upazila Nirbahi Officer HM Ibne Mizan said support measures are being considered.
“If artisans come forward, we will provide assistance including microcredit and other support to sustain the sector,” he said.
The pottery tradition in Madaripur now stands at a critical point, with artisans continuing their work amid shrinking demand and uncertain prospects.
Without timely intervention and awareness, locals fear the craft may soon disappear, taking with it a vital part of Bangladesh’s cultural heritage.
