Women who shape a living from river mud

Along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka's Kamrangirchar, several women spend their days making clay stoves by hand. Working from morning until late afternoon, they use sticky river mud to shape stoves of different sizes, turning this traditional craft into a source of livelihood.

In an open space on the banks of the Buriganga River in front of Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School, women shape clay stoves of various sizes. For many of them, this work is their main source of income.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Clay stoves made from Buriganga River mud are sold according to size, with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 1,000.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A woman works on shaping clay stoves along the riverbank in front of Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School. From morning to afternoon, she can make up to four stoves in a day. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Making a clay stove involves several stages. First, mud is collected from the river and shaped. The stove is then left to dry for a day. Once partially dried, it is trimmed and finished.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A woman gathers mud from the riverbank near Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School, which will later be used to make clay stoves.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Using river mud, a woman carefully shapes a clay stove along the bank in Kamrangirchar.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The women dry the stoves at the same riverside spot where they are made. Buying and selling also take place along the riverbank. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

On the riverbank in Kamrangirchar, a mother shapes clay stoves to earn a living, while her child plays nearby with mud, mimicking the work.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

bdnews24.com

Published : 12 Jan 2026, 04:34 PM

Updated : 12 Jan 2026, 04:34 PM

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Women who shape a living from river mud

Along the banks of the Buriganga River in Dhaka's Kamrangirchar, several women spend their days making clay stoves by hand. Working from morning until late afternoon, they use sticky river mud to shape stoves of different sizes, turning this traditional craft into a source of livelihood.

In an open space on the banks of the Buriganga River in front of Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School, women shape clay stoves of various sizes. For many of them, this work is their main source of income.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

In an open space on the banks of the Buriganga River in front of Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School, women shape clay stoves of various sizes. For many of them, this work is their main source of income.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Clay stoves made from Buriganga River mud are sold according to size, with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 1,000.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Clay stoves made from Buriganga River mud are sold according to size, with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 1,000.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A woman works on shaping clay stoves along the riverbank in front of Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School. From morning to afternoon, she can make up to four stoves in a day. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Making a clay stove involves several stages. First, mud is collected from the river and shaped. The stove is then left to dry for a day. Once partially dried, it is trimmed and finished.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

A woman gathers mud from the riverbank near Kamrangirchar Government Secondary School, which will later be used to make clay stoves.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Using river mud, a woman carefully shapes a clay stove along the bank in Kamrangirchar.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The women dry the stoves at the same riverside spot where they are made. Buying and selling also take place along the riverbank. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

The women dry the stoves at the same riverside spot where they are made. Buying and selling also take place along the riverbank. Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

On the riverbank in Kamrangirchar, a mother shapes clay stoves to earn a living, while her child plays nearby with mud, mimicking the work.Photo: Mahmud Zaman Ovi

Kamrangirchar

Buriganga River

Woman

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