Forging for sacrifice: Dhaka blacksmiths ride Eid-ul-Azha rush

With only a few days remaining before Eid-ul-Azha, blacksmiths across Dhaka are experiencing a surge in demand as residents prepare for the sacrificial rituals associated with Islam’s largest religious festival.
Visits to traditional kamarpottis (blacksmith clusters) in the capital show artisans working at full capacity, with little respite as customers queue to purchase and repair essential tools for animal slaughter and meat processing.
Knives, cleavers and other iron tools are in high demand, with blacksmith shops remaining the main source despite the increasing availability of factory-made Chinese alternatives. Many buyers still prefer handmade tools, citing durability and reliability.
At Karwan Bazar’s Kamarpotti, 60-year-old Sadekul Islam was among the customers preparing for Eid sacrifices. A resident of Moghbazar, he said he had purchased a cow from the Gabtoli cattle market and was buying tools for processing it.
“I bought five knives, two choppers and two botis for the cow I will sacrifice this year,” he told The Daily Sun. He spent around Tk4,000 in total.
Several well-known blacksmith hubs in Dhaka, including Thatari Bazar, Karwan Bazar, Mirpur-11 and Khilgaon, have seen heightened activity in recent days, with shops reporting a steady flow of customers from both within and outside the capital.
Not all buyers are local residents. Humayun Kabir, a private-sector employee from Lalmonirhat, was seen purchasing small knives at Mirpur-11. “There are no blacksmiths in my village, and I will not have time to buy tools there as I will return just a day before Eid. I would also have to travel far, so I came here instead,” he said.
Shop owner Badal Mia at Karwan Bazar Kamarpotti said prices vary depending on size and usage. 
Small skinning knives are sold for around Tk250, while slaughtering knives range between Tk1,200 and Tk1,800. Boti and chapati are sold by weight, typically priced between Tk600 and Tk800 per kilogram.
He added that pricing also depends on raw materials, with spring iron, commonly sourced from vehicle parts, and railway track iron considered the most durable and expensive.
Inside workshops at Mirpur-11 Kamarpotti, artisans were seen operating traditional forging bellows and sharpening tools to meet demand. Many customers also arrived with old knives for sharpening.
However, some buyers expressed dissatisfaction over sharpening charges, which have increased during the Eid season. Sharpening a small knife now costs around Tk150.
“The sharpening charge is Tk150, but I can buy a new knife for Tk250. The rate is too high and has almost doubled ahead of Eid,” said Shahidul Alam, who brought two knives for sharpening.
Artisans acknowledged the price increase, saying it reflects rising material and operational costs during peak seasonal demand.
Sellers also noted that while demand for knives and iron tools peaks during Eid, overall sales remain relatively low throughout the year and are gradually declining due to the growing presence of mass-produced imported alternatives.