Fairs vying with city-malls during Eid-shopping spree
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Fazlur Rahman
In addition to dozens of glamorous shopping malls and hundreds of supermarkets, at least 50 fairs are vying to cash in on the buying spree of the Eid-shoppers across the city.
Sources said some 50 fairs have been going on in the city since the first day of the holy Ramadan, which are mainly showcasing and selling handloom and textile products. They are also selling various items like cosmetics, ornaments and toys, etc.
However, Bangladesh shop owners association has alleged that these fairs are damaging the businesses of traditional shops, as the fair organisers and participators do not pay any tax to the government on their sales, and thus avail themselves of an undue privilege over other competitors.
"These fairs have been organised just to cash in on the shopping binge during the year's biggest shopping period that includes Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja," Amir Hossain Khan, chairman of the association told the FE.
Among the fairs, Jamdani and Handicraft Development Society has organised 'Jamdani and Handicraft Fair' on the premises of Siddheshwari Girls' High School at Bailey Road.
A total of 90 stalls are selling products like jamdani and Tangail saris as well as home textiles there to attract mainly female customers, said Mohammad Ali, former president of jamdani association.
Motijheel Colony Club has organised 'Eid Textiles Fair' at AGB Colony, which remains open to the Eid-shoppers from 9:00am to 11:00pm every day.
In the fair, 110 stalls are selling a range of male wears such as shirt, panjabi, fatua and kurta, etc, and female wears like sari, shalwar kameez and tops along with kids' wears. The fair will run until 27 Ramadan, said Rakibul Hasan, owner of Nazim Textile.
Handloom saris, Rajshahi silk saris and handicraft products are being sold at a month-long Eid fair at T and T College ground at Motijheel. Bangladesh Handloom Industry Education Foundation has organised it.
Loom and textile fairs are also being held at Dhupkhola playing ground at Jatrabari, Manik Mia Avenue, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mirpur -10, Mirpur-1, Sheorapara and Uttara.
Basabo Youth Club and Bangladesh Handicraft and Small Cottage Industry Foundation have jointly organised a month-long textiles and cottage industry fair at Basabo Eidgah field.
The fair, starting from the first day of Ramadan, has been organised to support the female victims of the grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
Shomahar, a socio-economic women development organisation, has organised a handicrafts fair at Tilpapara in the city's Khilgaon area.
Bangladesh Handloom Board has organised a month-long fair at Taltola to popularise the traditional handloom products and patronise the local manufactures.
Traditional jamdani, Tangail and Pabna handloom saris, shalwar kameez, shirt, panjabi, fatua and home textiles are the main attraction of the fair, said Mehedi Hasan, a member of the fair organising committee.
The holy month of Ramadan provides the retailers, wholesalers and distributors with a combined turnover of about Tk 140 billion, out of yearly turnover of nearly Tk 350 billion, according to an estimate of Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association.
In addition to dozens of glamorous shopping malls and hundreds of supermarkets, at least 50 fairs are vying to cash in on the buying spree of the Eid-shoppers across the city.
Sources said some 50 fairs have been going on in the city since the first day of the holy Ramadan, which are mainly showcasing and selling handloom and textile products. They are also selling various items like cosmetics, ornaments and toys, etc.
However, Bangladesh shop owners association has alleged that these fairs are damaging the businesses of traditional shops, as the fair organisers and participators do not pay any tax to the government on their sales, and thus avail themselves of an undue privilege over other competitors.
"These fairs have been organised just to cash in on the shopping binge during the year's biggest shopping period that includes Eid-ul-Fitr and Durga Puja," Amir Hossain Khan, chairman of the association told the FE.
Among the fairs, Jamdani and Handicraft Development Society has organised 'Jamdani and Handicraft Fair' on the premises of Siddheshwari Girls' High School at Bailey Road.
A total of 90 stalls are selling products like jamdani and Tangail saris as well as home textiles there to attract mainly female customers, said Mohammad Ali, former president of jamdani association.
Motijheel Colony Club has organised 'Eid Textiles Fair' at AGB Colony, which remains open to the Eid-shoppers from 9:00am to 11:00pm every day.
In the fair, 110 stalls are selling a range of male wears such as shirt, panjabi, fatua and kurta, etc, and female wears like sari, shalwar kameez and tops along with kids' wears. The fair will run until 27 Ramadan, said Rakibul Hasan, owner of Nazim Textile.
Handloom saris, Rajshahi silk saris and handicraft products are being sold at a month-long Eid fair at T and T College ground at Motijheel. Bangladesh Handloom Industry Education Foundation has organised it.
Loom and textile fairs are also being held at Dhupkhola playing ground at Jatrabari, Manik Mia Avenue, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mirpur -10, Mirpur-1, Sheorapara and Uttara.
Basabo Youth Club and Bangladesh Handicraft and Small Cottage Industry Foundation have jointly organised a month-long textiles and cottage industry fair at Basabo Eidgah field.
The fair, starting from the first day of Ramadan, has been organised to support the female victims of the grenade attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.
Shomahar, a socio-economic women development organisation, has organised a handicrafts fair at Tilpapara in the city's Khilgaon area.
Bangladesh Handloom Board has organised a month-long fair at Taltola to popularise the traditional handloom products and patronise the local manufactures.
Traditional jamdani, Tangail and Pabna handloom saris, shalwar kameez, shirt, panjabi, fatua and home textiles are the main attraction of the fair, said Mehedi Hasan, a member of the fair organising committee.
The holy month of Ramadan provides the retailers, wholesalers and distributors with a combined turnover of about Tk 140 billion, out of yearly turnover of nearly Tk 350 billion, according to an estimate of Bangladesh Shop Owners' Association.