Vendors and traders of Bangabazar, one of Dhaka’s largest clothing markets, are facing a slump in business as Eid-ul-Fitr approaches. Despite the usual bustling atmosphere during the month of Ramadan, the market now wears a deserted look without customers, with many shops empty and sales significantly declining.
The aftermath of last year’s devastating fire continues to haunt traders, as they grapple with the challenges of operating in temporary setups while awaiting the reconstruction of the market. With hopes pinned on the upcoming Eid, stakeholders have expressed concerns over the future of the once-vibrant wholesale hub.
During a visit to Bangabazar, located at Fulbaria, beside the headquarters of Bangladesh Police, this correspondent found most of the shops and stalls at the market empty, with just a few buyers browsing. Sellers are also not willing to bring out new Eid clothing collections due to the current economic situation.
The burnt Bangabazar market currently has more than 500 temporary shops.
Generally, the crowd in Bangabazar remains noticeable in the first 10-15 days of Ramadan amid a festive environment ahead of Eid. But now most of the shops are not seeing their expected customers. Buyers, who could be seen rarely, return without buying anything most of the time.
Many shops do not even have signboards. Some have put up banners with shop numbers on bamboo poles for their old buyers’ convenience, while the number of new buyers is drastically low.
Meanwhile, in a bid to give the traders a sliver of hope, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh recently announced that the construction work of the new multi-storey building for Bangabazar market will begin after the Eid.
He said that the tender process was almost over. “We hope to rebuild the new market building and rehabilitate those affected.”
Every single shop in the famous Bangabazar market was engulfed in flames within minutes in the massive fire that started on the morning of April 4 last year. About 50 firefighting units brought the fire under control after trying for about seven long hours. By then, the whole market was gutted.
A few days after the fire, the shopkeepers started their business by setting up makeshift shops under the open sky. Currently, they are conducting their business at those shops by hanging a huge tarpaulin that covers the whole ground and protects them from sun and rain.
Muhammad Hussein, a salesman of Insaf Garments, said, “Once, the shop rent was Tk 20,000 to Tk 1 lakh. After the fire, there is no rent but we have to pay service charges and utility bills. We hope we can recover the loss we have suffered.”
Another businessman Mojibur Haque said, “Eid clothes are a kind of luxury. People right now cannot buy everyday commodities and things, how can they buy clothes?”
“In the current market, four lemons are selling for Tk 70, can you imagine? This is the reason sellers like me are not bringing any new collections ahead of Eid. I only picked up panjabis in the store for Eid. Considering the low sales, I don’t know whether I’ll get another shipment.”
Rakib, another seller operating next to Mojibur’s shop, said, “Normally, we sell products worth Tk 70,000 daily during the Eid season. But in the last few days, no buyer bought wholesale products. Today, I have sold products worth Tk 12,000 only.”
A handful of 15-20 buyers were seen browsing the products throughout the market that afternoon when this correspondent visited.
Ivan Ahmed was one of them. He said, “This time most of the products are profit-oriented. Traders come from far away, buy from here at wholesale prices, and take away. Maybe that’s why they brought more products of this type.”
He also said, “We could not find any products of our liking within the last two hours. In other places, good quality products are available but the prices are very high. So where do we middle-class people go?”
Md Zahirul Islam, general secretary of Bangabazar Complex Dokan Malik Samity and proprietor of Al-Macca Sharees, said, “Business condition is worse than last year. Many traders who used to do business here have shifted their business to various nearby markets like City Plaza, Nagar Plaza, Zakir Plaza, etc.
“However, it is expected that the work of the Bangabazar multi-story building will be started after Eid. So, the temporary shops will remain open until the night before Eid day. I am optimistic about the new building and the future success of Bangabazar as a whole.”
