Home ›› 09 Sep 2021 ›› News
The once bustling Bangabazar market in Dhaka’s Fulbaria is yet to recover from the shock that the Covid-19 pandemic has induced in the last one-and-half-years.
Hundreds of tiny shops loaded with economy garments, which for decades have catered to the need of locals and foreigners alike, are counting days in losses since the pandemic began.
After speaking to several shopkeepers, The Business Post learned that their sales had been witnessing a downward trend as customer turnouts have been very low when compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Not only the retailers, but wholesalers in the market also could not insulate themselves from a lull in business.
“More than half of the dresses (clothes for boys and girls) meant for last Eid are still in my stock. We did not find any customers after the lockdown ended. I could not sell a single pair of dresses since the morning,” Juwel Ahmed of Purnima Garments said.
“As demand falls, retailers cannot sell their products. This eventually affects the wholesale markets. I think the situation will take a long time to get back to normal,” he said.
Md Forhad Khan, owner of New Khan Fashion which caters both retail and wholesale customers, said, “Before the pandemic, we sold products worth Tk 10-15 lakhs per month on an average. Now, the sales have reduced down to Tk 1 lakh per month.”
“After spending Tk 45,000 for rent and Tk 35,000 to pay three of my employees, it has become hard for me to bring in new stocks in my shop,” he said, adding that the financial hardship and uncertainty in business had been pushing him to close the shop.
Sheikh Mohammad Liton, owner of Lamia Garments, said that the pandemic has turned him into a retailer from a wholesaler.
“As the sales are low, now I am selling my product either with no profit or even lower than my cost price. As I am a father of three, I have to maintain my family and also this shop too. Therefore, I am not thinking about the profit now. That’s why, I am selling the product at the cost price,” he said.
“During the lockdown, our shops were closed, but the rent was levied. Now the landlords want to hike the rent as the lockdown has been called off, ignoring our present situation.”
“I used to buy products from here for my shop worth at least Tk 2-3 lakhs per week, now it’s hard to buy the same amounts of products in a month,” said Rajib, who used to buy products from Bangabazar for his shop in Mirpur.
Meanwhile, customer turnout of the first floor of the market was much better than the second floor. There were a few customers on the second floor of the markets where saree, wedding and party dresses for women and girls were being sold.
“Previously, I came here often to buy my daily outfits. But, I have come here after more than one year as my university was shut and I went back to my hometown,” said another customer Mahfuzur Alam Sumon who came to Bangabazar to buy a denim pant.
Sani Sarkar, a salesman of RB Corporation, told The Business Post, “Our salary has been cut due to the pandemic situation and with this low customer turnout, we didn’t even get our Eid bonuses of the last two Eid. It’s been hard to work in a clothing shop.”
Banglabazar Dokan Malik Samity Vice-President Ahmed Ali said, “Before the pandemic, we, the traders, in this market were in good position as there were a lot of customers who used to flock here throughout the year. But, the Covid pandemic and the repeated lockdowns have affected our traders.”
He said that a series of movement restrictions before and after the last two Eid festivals had slashed the
market’s sales by 40-50 per cent. He also said even though the government allocated incentives packages for traders, but the benefits did not reach small traders.
“Big garment and factory owners are getting those incentives. We are not,” he said.
The vice-president also denied allegations that the traders said about not scrapping rent and said, “After having discussion with the shop owners and other members of the association, we have already scrapped one month’s rent for the traders in the market.”
