Abu Sazzad :
Indian sari, dresses, imitation and jewellery have flooded the city markets ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr and their sales are also very high because of local demands.
While visiting different city shops on Monday, this reporter saw most shopkeepers selling Indian saris, girls’ three-pieces, punjabi and children’s dresses. Most of the kids and teenagers’ garment items in any shop are made in India.
The sellers seem happy as huge sale of Indian dresses and clothes is adding to their profit which is likely to rise further during the next about twelve days before the Eid.
According to the shop owners, about 80 per cent demand is met by the imported products, mostly from India. On the other hand, around 10 per cent demand is being met by Pakistani products. Children and women are more enthusiastic in choosing new and unique designed clothes to celebrate the religious festival.
Instead of local quality better products, the local customers are attracted to the traditional garments coming from India and Pakistan as they are more sophisticated in design and fashion.
The reporter visited a good number of shopping malls at city’s different areas, including Gulistan, Motijheel, New Market, Farmgate, Mirpur, Palton, Mouchak and Malibagh. The buyers are crowding in the markets to buy clothes and other items for their families.
Mithu Sarker Mithu, the owner of Riad Store at Shah Ali Plaza said, they have bought saris, salwar kameez and punjabi from India and Pakistan. Most of the T-shirts, jeans and baby wear made of synthetics are imported from China and Thailand.
“We mainly depend on imported items as customers wanted to buy the well designed Indian and Pakistani dresses,” he said.
Mithu. Sarker said the Indian Suti Sari is very popular here among all ages of women, An Indian suti sari is selling between Tk 2000 and 6000.
Teenager and youth ladies are the main customers of the Indian three pieces due to its well design. Indian three pieces are selling in different names like Rishika, bijoy and silkina. A Rishika three pieces is being sold at Tk 2,500 to 3,000.
Along side the Indian products, customers are also choosing the Pakistani three pieces in various names such as Ranas, Falak and Moti. A Falak category three pieces is being sold at Tk 3,500.
Owner of Sami Sari House at Shah Ali market Rakib Hasan said, customers frequently are buying Indian saris because of it good looking. An Indian silk and tath sari are being sold by Tk 1500 and 2200 respectively, Rakib said.
“I love colourful designs of Indian salwar kameezes,” said Lima, an excited Eid shopper at Shah Ali Plaza. The local products are better in quality, but less attractive to me,” she said.
Actually, the Indian products are more attractive than the local products, which is the reason to buy those products for mind’s satisfaction, said Lima.
Meanwhile, the Indian imitation jewelleries are also occupying Bangladesh’s Eid market.
According to the shop owners, the women usually choose to buy the Indian antique-like jewelleries for special occasions rather than the local shiny products.
To meet the customers’ demand, they largely rely on imported imitation jewelleries. They said due to lack of improved technology, Bangladeshi imitation ornaments are beaten by the imported Indian products.
