Nabinagar Upazila of Brahmanbaria district once had a reputation for pottery. However, the traditional pottery industry of Nabinagar Upazila is slowly fading away due to various adversities. Narayanpur, Velanagar, Ibrahimpur, Srirampur, Bitghar villages of this upazila were the heart of pottery industry. At least 3000 potters worked day and night in all these villages. They skillfully made pots, pans, vessels, vases, tubs, etc. Dolls made by them were also distributed in wide areas of Dhaka and other districts. But now the potters of Nabinagar are forced to give up their traditional profession due to various adversities.
Now only a few hundred potters hold on to their profession in the Upazila. Due to the poverty of their profession, a great disaster has come in the life of the families of the potter. Aluminum and plastic trays have taken the place of earthenware. It costs more but is more durable. So the common people of the village buy aluminum and plastic lanterns.
Potter Jai Pal said, "The cost of production increases due to the increase in the cost of pottery making materials several times. As a result, our debt burden in this traditional industry has become heavy”.
Many are forced to leave the profession due to various adversities. Therefore, the pottery industry of Nabinagar upazila is almost on the verge of extinction.
However, some potters are having a busy time on the occasion of 1st Baisakh. Under the initiative of Nabinagar Upazila Parishad and with the help of local NGO Hope, training was provided to local artisans to sustain the traditional pottery of the area, although its reflection was not seen much.
In the future, if the government gives them regular training and loans on easy terms, then it may be possible to sustain this industry.