Once a trusted tool in every market of Cox’s Bazar, the traditional balance scale—with its two tin plates, iron beam, and stone weights—was an inseparable part of daily trade.
The rhythmic motion of this simple yet reliable device weighed and sold every commodity, from rice, lentils, oil, and spices.
However, those days are nearly over. Digital weighing machines have taken over, offering instant precision and convenience.
The once-iconic balance scale, once a symbol of honesty and trust, now lies abandoned in market corners, behind shop counters, or as a nostalgic relic in someone’s home.
During a recent visit to Kutubazar in Ukhiya, one of the few remaining balance scales was spotted. A senior shopkeeper recalled, “Every store used to have a scale. Weighing something back then wasn’t just about accuracy—it was about trust. The digital machines are faster, but they don’t carry the same feeling.”
Locals say the balance scale was more than just a weighing tool—it represented integrity, fairness, and rural life itself.
Though technology has erased it, those who lived it still remember.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
