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Thakurgaon blacksmiths face uncertainty

From Our Correspondent
THAKURGAON. Jan 21: Blacksmiths of Thakurgaon district have been facing multifarious problems and this age-old industry of the district is now on the verge of ruination due to lack of patronisation.
It is gathered that having been unable to grapple with the problems, many blacksmiths of the district have already given up their old profession while others are trying to find out other suitable profession.
About 500 families in Shibganj, Baliadangi, Ruhea, Kochabari, Ranisankail and Pirganj have been engaged in this vocation from generation to generation. Most of them are blacksmiths by birth and they do not require any other training to earn their livelihood.
The blacksmiths reside in groups in different areas of the district. While talking to this correspondent, some of them informed that the prices of rod, coal and other things have now increased many times which are beyond their purchasing capacity. They lose their customers as there is a hard competition with machine made tools.
The services of the blacksmiths have still high demand by the villagers and fanners for repairing the household articles and agricultural tools. They alleged that they had not been provided any bank loans.
Prices and demand of the tools produced by them are not commensurate with the production cost. The cumulative affects of all these have forced many blacksmiths to become day labourers.
Civic life in jeopardy
Meanwhile, Pirganj is an important centre for business, education and communication with a growing population is plagued with numerous problems. Absence of proper drainage system, want of good roads, sanitary arrangement, mordern markets, recreational facilities are some of the problems which irritate the people of Pirganj Pourashava under Thakurgaon district.
Due to lack of good drainage system, people of this town are suffering a lot. All existing drains remain open and are found full of filthy waters, weeds and garbages. These drains have been turned into ideal breeding ground of mosquitoes. In the populated areas there is no drain to pass filthy water which pollutes surroundings.
Most of the roads in the town are narrow and some of them have developed deep holes and cracks for want of proper maintenance, causing difficulty for vehicles to ply over them. The rain water remains stagnant on the road causing immense trouble to the people.
In absence of public toilets in the pourashava town and at the bus stand people find it difficult to respond to the call of nature. People thus pollute environment by using roadside and also nooks and corners of shops. Moreover, most of the roads in the town particularly college hat road remains dirty. Filthy water which comes on the road and bad odour of some manholes, creates trouble to the passersby.
Markets need care
There is only one market in the town for the growing population but, it is not quite sufficient for the buyers and the sellers. The condition of the college hat market is not at all good. In the rainy day, people can not enter the market as there is no good street. Moreover, the floating and permanent shops have narrowed the entrance to the market. Due to Lack of slaughtering house, bad smell spread through the area causing health hazards to the people.
For want of recreational facilities particularly the children of this town are facing much inconveniences. There is no park where the children can spend their leisure time. Sometimes the students of the local educational institutions use the Dak Bungalow ground.
The people of this pourashava town expect that the authorities concerned should take necessary steps to solve the problems.