Drastic drop in flower sales disheartens Rajshahi traders

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Our Correspondent | Published: February 15, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

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RAJSHAHI, Feb 14: Sales of flowers at the flower shops in Rajshahi remained dull even during the advent of Bangla month of Falgoon and the Valentine's Day.
Sources informed, aspiring for a brisk business of flowers during Pahela Falgoon of the Spring season and the Valentine's day, traders in Rajshahi brought various species or flowers worth at least Tk 600,000 from various places including Jhikorgachha of Jessore, Gazipur and Kushtia districts braving blockade and strikes endorsed by oppositions.
Flower traders of the city said due to poor sales most of them were incurring a huge loss.
On Friday, the bargaining and sales got a slight momentum but that was not up to their expectation. Flower traders had hoped a brisk business during the Pahela Falgoon and the Valentine's Day. But their expectation remained unrealised. Though the varsities and colleges of the city are open, no classes and examinations were being held there. As a result, most students of those educational institutions did not return to the campus from their houses. And the customers of flowers are mainly students. Due to poor presence of students in the city institutions, the flower business was dull.
Abul Hossain, a flower trader in Rajshahi Shaheb Bazaar area informed, aiming a brisk business during the occasions of Pahela Falgoon and the Velentine's, they had stored a huge varieties of flowers. But, selling of flowers was far less beyond their expectation.
He further mentioned, due to lack of sufficient customers, flowers are getting withered and they are being forced to sell those at a reduced rate than the rate of purchase.
Faruk Hossain, a flower trader at New Market informed, the flower trade gets momentum during the month of February but this year was an exception. They are being bound to throw away withered unsold flowers as those are not a commodity to be consumed, he mentioned.
There was no facilities for preservation of flowers and as a result they have to sell flowers daily even at a reduced rate.
He informed, during normal time, he used to sell a bunch of marigold at Tk 150 to 200 but due to present situation, a bunch of marigold is not even being sold at Tk 40 to 45.
It is learnt, there are more than 150 flower shops in Rajshahi. The flower traders hoped, the business will be geared up once again when there will be a stable political situation.
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