Imported Indian and Pakistani clothes, particularly selwar kameez and saree, have flooded the markets of Bangladesh on the eve of Eid-ul Fitr poising a big threat to the local industries.
Market sources said that around 80 to 90 per cent of the total demand is usually meet from the imported clothes during the Eid, the biggest festival of Muslim community. Of them, the lion portion [around 80%] comes from India and the rest from different other countries including Pakistan, Thailand and China.
The trade volume stands alone at around Tk 20, 000 crore during Eid time and the size of this 'one-sided' trading expands up to Tk 35,000-Tk 40,000 crore over the fiscal year, the sources said.
There is widespread allegation that a section of dishonest businessmen evade a large quantity of duty through under invoicing taking advantage of laxity of National Board of Revenue [NBR]. Besides, a portion of clothes illegally enter Bangladesh through border routes targeting the Eid market.
Country's top business leaders have also alleged that the whole local industries, including the boutique shops and fashion houses, are now facing tremendous dilemma due to absence of government pragmatic initiatives to encourage the home entrepreneurs.
They further said that the local industries are yet to flourish like the apparel and leather sectors while the neighbouring countries have been taking advantage of the poor infrastructure of the industry.
Meanwhile, the city markets and shopping malls started witnessing a buying spree with the increasing sale of Indian, Pakistani, Chinese and Thailand women wears with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 25,000 each.
The traders are selling the unstitched salwar kamiz, whose prices ranged from Tk 2,500 to Tk 15,000 each. The long and short Punjabi-- used cotton, andi silk, joysri silk, dhupian fabric - are now at sale at Tk 700 to Tk 5,000 each while the price varied from Tk 6,000 to Tk 15,000 for each shelwar kameez.
Manager of a local fashion house in Dhaka 'Anjans' said they are suffering in their sale due to the overflow of Indian and Pakistani clothing including three-pieces.
Already some three-piece dresses [selwar kameez] named after Hindi television serials and movies; such as Anarkali' and Indian sarees like 'Kanchivaram' and georgette, are getting hot to the shoppers defying the high prices.
Besides, the teenage girls' dresses, kid's wears and panjabis for men-all are imported mainly from India-- have been drawing attention of the customers due to its quality and up-to-date fashion.