Lalmonirhat idol makers squeezed by rising costs

Artisans in Lalmonirhat are working around the clock to complete idols for the forthcoming Durga Puja, yet climbing material and labour costs, coupled with stagnant selling prices, are leaving them with scant profit despite a heavier workload.

Across the district’s five upazilas, craftsmen are putting the finishing touches to idols of Goddess Durga and other deities ahead of the Hindu festival. With Lakshmi Puja and Kali Puja also approaching, demand has surged, prompting women and children in many artisan families to join the effort. However, the prices of clay, wood, straw, bamboo and paint have all risen, pushing up production costs. Each idol sells for between Tk 25,000 and Tk 30,000, artisans said, but those prices no longer reflect the cost of materials and labour. Subal Mohanta of Kamarpara in Dalggram Union, together with Fanimol Pal and Chhabita Pal of Kakina Palpara in Kaliganj, said they were struggling to earn a fair return. Nevertheless, they persevere out of religious devotion and a commitment to preserving their ancestral trade, and they have appealed for government assistance to protect the traditional craft and ensure fair compensation.

Meanwhile, Shibendra Nath Roy Shibu, president of the Lalmonirhat Sadar Upazila Puja Celebration Council, said efforts were underway to support the artisans and ensure the festival proceeded smoothly. Moreover, police superintendent Asaduzzaman said that 489 puja mandaps would host Durga Puja across the district this year, adding that law enforcement personnel would remain vigilant, including through mobile patrols.

Deputy Commissioner Muh Rashedul Haque Pradhan said that 600 kilograms of rice had been allocated to each mandap, amounting to 287 metric tonnes in total. He added that artisans seeking government assistance with raw materials should form an organisation so that they could present their demands to the authorities.