Country's business community expects a collection of Tk 100 billion from halkhata, as Pahela Baishakh holds out promises of growing economic returns.
The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) appeared upbeat about such a turnover from the opening of new ledger book on the Bengali New Year's Day.
Businesses are in the final preparation to bank on the business bonanza on the Pahela Baishakh, the first day in the Bengali calendar.
The Bangla New Year celebrations include an important tradition-the opening of halkhata, a new ledger for the year for the businesses, Dr Mrs Begum Akhter Kamal, chairperson of the Department of Bengali of Dhaka University, told the FE.
She said the traders distribute sweets and snacks to their customers, business partners, clients and agents and also perform some religious customs on the day.
"Halkhata is a great opportunity to build up relations between businessmen and customers," the DU teacher said.
Abdur Rahman, a wholesale trader who runs a readymade garment shop at Islampur in the older part of Dhaka, said: "Pahela Baishakh is very important to us as on the day we open halkhata, the new accounts book."
He said they have many customers across the country and Pahela Baishakh is an opportunity to establish a stronger bond with their customers and other stakeholders.
Asma Nahar, a housewife living in Mirpur, says she always visits two jewellery shops in her area as she is regular customer at the shops.
"Every year I always get invited from the shops for first day of Baishakh, and I make it an opportunity to visit them," Mrs Nahar added.
She said shop owners give some gifts like mugs and jewellery boxes with foodstuffs, which include a wide range of sweets, phuchka, luchi and other things.
Abdus Samad, a wholesale trader in food items in Mirpur, arranges a 'milad' every year on the first of Baishakh to start off the New Bengali calendar.
He said to celebrate the Pahela Baishakh festival they will clean and decorate their business house.
Kamol Sarkar, manager of a grocery shop at Kawran Bazar, said as Pahela Baishakh is drawing near, they are passing very busy time to complete the annual accounts.
Assistant Prof of the Dept of Bangla at Khulna University Imran Kamal said Mughal Emperor Jalal Uddin Akbar started the Bangla calendar year for the sake of revenue collection from their subjects.
Later on, zamindars--landlords during the British period--used to collect khajna on the first day of Baishakh.
Soon the businessmen also followed suit--they began to collect their dues from their clients on the day.
Mr Kamal pointed out that halkhata is observed any day of the month of Baishakh according to the traders' suitable time.
"Halkhata has a great impact on the agrarian economy as it explores most business interactions among trade players on the day," he said.
Md Helal Uddin, vice-president of the FBCCI, said the businesses were expecting to get back Tk 100 billion from their clients through halkhata ceremony.
He said collection through halkhata has been declining as most businesses or clients are going formal to bank and other financial institutions.
"The downturn in halkhata collection will be going on following the up-gradation of trade norms, but, traditionally, the programmes related to the day will sustain," said the leading businessman.
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