Foreign clothes flood markets
M M Jasim :
Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Thai clothes have grabbed a lion share in the Eid market across the country.
A number of shops in different city malls catering to the demands of teenagers and kids are also relying on imported items.
Saris, salwar kameez and punjabi are bought from India and Pakistan, most of the T-shirts, jeans and synthetic baby-wears are imported from China and Thailand.
Markets in posh areas like Eastern Plaza, Rapa Plaza, Prince Plaza and Sunrise Plaza are catering to the customers’ craze for imported sarees and lehengas that cost up to Tk 1.25 lakh. Even the Dhanmondi Hawkers’ Market, crammed with people, offers plenty of Indian sarees.
Local salwar kameez or dress materials can hardly be found in Chandni Chawk Market. “We imported 600 pieces of three-piece (salwar kameez and dupatta) for sale in the Eid market,” said Nadiruzzaman, a salesman of ‘Libas’ in Chadni Chawk. His store houses unstitched Indian and Pakistani selwar kameez ranging from Tk 600 to Tk 10,000.
In some of the city markets, imported punjabi, kurta, sherwani and angrakha are irresistible attraction for men. “These are quite expensive, but there are certain class of shoppers who opt for these,” said a salesperson of a shop at Vishal Centre in Moghbazar.
Asked why they are not selling local clothes, most traders said, they sell imported clothes as the customers demand it most. “Or else why would we import them bearing all the hassles,” said Nazmul Haque Prodhan of ‘Look and Like’ at Basundhara Shopping Mall.
Monirul Alam, a salesman of a shop at Gausia Market said, they import dresses just to sustain the business. “I have been in the business for last 12 years and we always import products from neighbouring countries. We import more before Eid to do a brisk business.”
Most traders said, they are compelled to sell imported clothes as customers always find it of better quality. “We cannot blame them as most of our local products are really bad,” said Hamiduzzaman, another salesman. He said that local products which are of good quality are expensive and beyond the reach of middle-income group.
“I can get a decent looking salwar kameez of better texture at Tk 600 if I opt for the imported one, whereas local products that suit my taste is available only in the fashion houses costing far more,” Sharmin Mustareen, a student of private university said.
“I like colourful designs of the Indian salwar kameez,” said Samia, an Eid shopper, at Eastern Plaza. “The Indian dresses give a festive flavour while local dresses look extremely casual.”
Some of the traders commented there should be a change in the taste of customers if local dresses are to be promoted. “They are simply glued to all those Hindi serials and trying to follow the style of those actresses ending up buying similar designed foreign clothes,” said Khairul Anam, a trader at Eastern Plaza.
Market insiders stress on skilled workers to produce garments in conformity with the fashions to grab the market of the Indian traditional garments. “We need a skilled workforce to revive Bangladeshi industry of traditional garments,” said Ariful Islam, the shop owner at Gausia.
“The foreigners make their products by the skilled workers and designers. It is possible in Bangladesh also. If we do not promote our dresses’ design and overall quality the home-made products, the imported products will dominate our markets for a long time, said Bahalul Ahmed Fahim, Managing Director of BJ Point at Aziz Super Market. The traditional garments like the women’s saree, salwar kameez and the men’s punjabi are of the greatest attraction during Eid.
According to the shop owners, the women usually buy the Indian antique-like jewelleries for special occasions, rather than the local shiny products.
Meanwhile, Indian and Pakistani clothes have grabbed the local markets across the country.
These clothes, ranging from sarees and three-piece dresses for women to gaudy attires for children, are coming in various designs and prices and high in demand among local customers.
A good number of these dresses are named after popular Indian television serials, movies, actresses and even catchphrases.
Some of the names include, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Prianka, Kareena, Masakali, Rashi, Kolaveri, Khushi, Jhilik, Shibam and so on.
Among children’s favourites are Doraemon, Batman and Superman -dresses named after popular superhuman and animated characters to entice teenage shoppers into buying them.
A good number of markets in Cox’s Bazar are awash with the Indian and Pakistani low quality Eid dresses, but, using different attractive labels, these items are being sold at exorbitant prices. Since it is more profitable, most of the traders here are getting interest in this illegal trade, the sources said. Of the imported Eid items, 80 per cent have been smuggled into the country this year. As a result, a huge amount of revenue remained unrealised from this illegal trade. It is gathered that due to this illegal trade the local industry is suffering blow. Several strong syndicates of India and Bangladesh are involved in this illegal trade.
Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Thai clothes have grabbed a lion share in the Eid market across the country.
A number of shops in different city malls catering to the demands of teenagers and kids are also relying on imported items.
Saris, salwar kameez and punjabi are bought from India and Pakistan, most of the T-shirts, jeans and synthetic baby-wears are imported from China and Thailand.
Markets in posh areas like Eastern Plaza, Rapa Plaza, Prince Plaza and Sunrise Plaza are catering to the customers’ craze for imported sarees and lehengas that cost up to Tk 1.25 lakh. Even the Dhanmondi Hawkers’ Market, crammed with people, offers plenty of Indian sarees.
Local salwar kameez or dress materials can hardly be found in Chandni Chawk Market. “We imported 600 pieces of three-piece (salwar kameez and dupatta) for sale in the Eid market,” said Nadiruzzaman, a salesman of ‘Libas’ in Chadni Chawk. His store houses unstitched Indian and Pakistani selwar kameez ranging from Tk 600 to Tk 10,000.
In some of the city markets, imported punjabi, kurta, sherwani and angrakha are irresistible attraction for men. “These are quite expensive, but there are certain class of shoppers who opt for these,” said a salesperson of a shop at Vishal Centre in Moghbazar.
Asked why they are not selling local clothes, most traders said, they sell imported clothes as the customers demand it most. “Or else why would we import them bearing all the hassles,” said Nazmul Haque Prodhan of ‘Look and Like’ at Basundhara Shopping Mall.
Monirul Alam, a salesman of a shop at Gausia Market said, they import dresses just to sustain the business. “I have been in the business for last 12 years and we always import products from neighbouring countries. We import more before Eid to do a brisk business.”
Most traders said, they are compelled to sell imported clothes as customers always find it of better quality. “We cannot blame them as most of our local products are really bad,” said Hamiduzzaman, another salesman. He said that local products which are of good quality are expensive and beyond the reach of middle-income group.
“I can get a decent looking salwar kameez of better texture at Tk 600 if I opt for the imported one, whereas local products that suit my taste is available only in the fashion houses costing far more,” Sharmin Mustareen, a student of private university said.
“I like colourful designs of the Indian salwar kameez,” said Samia, an Eid shopper, at Eastern Plaza. “The Indian dresses give a festive flavour while local dresses look extremely casual.”
Some of the traders commented there should be a change in the taste of customers if local dresses are to be promoted. “They are simply glued to all those Hindi serials and trying to follow the style of those actresses ending up buying similar designed foreign clothes,” said Khairul Anam, a trader at Eastern Plaza.
Market insiders stress on skilled workers to produce garments in conformity with the fashions to grab the market of the Indian traditional garments. “We need a skilled workforce to revive Bangladeshi industry of traditional garments,” said Ariful Islam, the shop owner at Gausia.
“The foreigners make their products by the skilled workers and designers. It is possible in Bangladesh also. If we do not promote our dresses’ design and overall quality the home-made products, the imported products will dominate our markets for a long time, said Bahalul Ahmed Fahim, Managing Director of BJ Point at Aziz Super Market. The traditional garments like the women’s saree, salwar kameez and the men’s punjabi are of the greatest attraction during Eid.
According to the shop owners, the women usually buy the Indian antique-like jewelleries for special occasions, rather than the local shiny products.
Meanwhile, Indian and Pakistani clothes have grabbed the local markets across the country.
These clothes, ranging from sarees and three-piece dresses for women to gaudy attires for children, are coming in various designs and prices and high in demand among local customers.
A good number of these dresses are named after popular Indian television serials, movies, actresses and even catchphrases.
Some of the names include, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Prianka, Kareena, Masakali, Rashi, Kolaveri, Khushi, Jhilik, Shibam and so on.
Among children’s favourites are Doraemon, Batman and Superman -dresses named after popular superhuman and animated characters to entice teenage shoppers into buying them.
A good number of markets in Cox’s Bazar are awash with the Indian and Pakistani low quality Eid dresses, but, using different attractive labels, these items are being sold at exorbitant prices. Since it is more profitable, most of the traders here are getting interest in this illegal trade, the sources said. Of the imported Eid items, 80 per cent have been smuggled into the country this year. As a result, a huge amount of revenue remained unrealised from this illegal trade. It is gathered that due to this illegal trade the local industry is suffering blow. Several strong syndicates of India and Bangladesh are involved in this illegal trade.
