Flute makers in the northdrn districts including Dinajpur, Rangpur, & Nilphamari are facing harsh times, as the demand for their products has waned. There has been no govt initiative to create national & international market for their craft, according to the flute makers & traders. Lack of bamboo, required for making the musical instrument, has also added to the crisis. "There have been isolated efforts by the govt to improve the trade & products" said Narayan Chandra Roy, a flute maker from Taraganj, Rangpur sadar upazila, who was vending his products hdre in Dinajpur recently. He added that about ten year back, his products were exported to India & England but now even the number of domestic to be a big challenge for flutes. A cultural activist of Dinajpur also suggested that the govt should promote & encourage small businesses & handicrafts by exporting the products to other countries. Harpal Biswas a local trader sells around 10/15 flutes per day at present, but claims to have sold 100/150 ten years back. "I've been in this trade forever. My father used to make flutes too. Currently buyers of our products are mostly local musicians & children & that doesn't cut it" he added. Many of the families who had been flute makers for generations, have moved on to other others professions. The number of crafts men has been declining sincd the mid '80. Over the last three decades, the number of these families in the region has decreased from 150 to 20. Many have migrated to india as well. Talking to this correspondent recently, the flute makers disappointedly said that the urban populace is now opting for electronic musical instruments, as a result traditional handmade instruments like flutes are losing market.
---Collected from DAILY STAR
RSS Feed (xml)
