, June 6 -- ul-Azha approaching, the rhythm of hammers on steel should be echoing through Dhaka's blacksmith lanes like a festive drumbeat, but this year, that symphony is curiously subdued.

In Karwan Bazar's age-old alleys, where iron and fire are forged into tradition, blades of every kind sit poised-ready for the season's sacred rituals.

Knives, cleavers, axes and the famed round tamarind chopping blocks known as khaitta lie in neat rows under the open sky and tin roofs.

Forging Faith: Jashore's blacksmiths toil tirelessly ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

Their sharp edges glint in the morning sun, their handles polished, their weight balanced. And yet, they are met not with eager hands, but with the still air of waiting.

At Zerin Hardware, o...