Impact of political unrest: Keraniganj apparel businesses fear less winter sales
Staff Reporter :
The booming garment trade is just a near-forgotten past at keraniganj facing new fear about winter sales ahead of the winter season inflicted by political unrest. The current political situation is causing significant disruptions in the accessories market, production, market prices, and sales for Keraniganj apparel businesses.
From November to January is the peak time for businesses of winter clothes, when whole sellers at Keranigonj bring out new lots with new designs to meet the seasonal demand. They look forward to this time for handsome profits.
Nearly 10,000 small and medium garment factories in Keraniganj garment areas. They usually target to meet local demand .However, sales in factories and wholesale shops in this area doubles during the festival and winter season.
But, this year, ahead of the winter season, no such business move has yet to be seen, making Businesses at Keraniganj further worried. They attributed an unfavorable business environment to the decrease in sales.
Since the grand rally of BNP and its allies on October 28, programs like hartal-blockade have continued as oppositions demanding the restoration of a caretaker government system to oversee national elections as they believe no free and fair election can take place under current regime.
The ongoing countrywide road-rail-waterway blockade imposed by the main opposition has disrupted the supply chains and significantly pushed up the cost of transport because only a fraction of the trucks and buses have been on the road during the shutdown.
As a result, businesses are afraid of loss in the coming winter season. In addition, due to the price increase of daily essentials, macro-economic unsuitability, they also fear that it will have an impact on the clothing business. Many of the manufacturers have already reduced production at Keraniganj area for low volume of sales and high cost of raw materials.
Abdul Malek, the owner of Sunflower Garments, said that our factory has started making winter jackets and sweaters since mid- October. Now whenever we start the winter sales, the political instability changed the whole scenario. There is no trading rhythm since later days of the previous month. ”Customers from different districts are not coming and as the unrest escalating, our worries have been escalating simultaneously”, Abdul Malek expressed.
Amir Hossain, Manager of Bushra Pant Corner said that no long-distance bus is running due to the blockade. If this situation continues for the next two months before the election, sales will be very low this winter.
General Secretary of Keraniganj Garments Traders and Shop Owners Association Muslim Dhali said that 70 percent of the country’s demand for winter clothing remains in these markets.
Preparations for making winter clothes were going vigorously in the factories from the mid- Septerber. Now this political turmoil is wreaking havoc in the market.
