SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali

With Pahela Baishakh just around the corner, the air in several villages of Baufal upazila in Patuakhali is thick with the scent of wet clay and fresh paint.

Pottery artisans are working tirelessly in courtyards and makeshift workshops, shaping, painting, and drying clay goods -- each piece crafted in anticipation of booming sales during the Bangla New Year festivities.

Around a thousand families across four villages -- Kankdia, Boga, Madanpur, and Bilbilas -- are engaged in this traditional craft.

Though their products are sold throughout the year, demand peaks ahead of the Baishakhi celebrations and fair, with traders and artisans expecting sales to exceed Tk 1 crore this season.

These villages, located about 30 kilometres northeast of Patuakhali town, have long been home to the Pal community, renowned for their pottery skills.

Under the supervision of master craftsmen, the artisans produce a wide variety of household and decorative items using a special type of locally sourced sticky clay.

The production process is a team effort -- some artisans shape the clay, others paint the items, some dry them in the sun, and others take care of packaging.

Over the past five decades, the Pal community has adapted to changing consumer tastes, said Barun Pal, one of the most experienced artisans in the region.

“In the beginning, we used to make only clay pots and toys. Now, we create a wide variety of items like dinner sets, cups, and other decorative

SEE PAGE 4 COL 7