Thursday, October 9, 2025

Poor Eid sales worry northern weavers

More than three lakh handlooms in 10 upazilas of Pabna and Sirajganj are abuzz with activities targeting sales during this Eid season.
But the weavers in the major handloom clothing zone of the country are worried about low sales even in this peak shopping season.
“I sold around 80 saris in the last two days although the number was more than 200 on every market day during last Ramadan,” said Md Habil Uddin, a marginal weaver at Norina village of Sirajganj.
Habil Uddin is not alone. Many other weavers of Shahzadpur, Ullahpara, Chowhali, Kazipur, Belkuchi, Sirajganj Sadar, Bera, Santhia, Sujanagar and Pabna Sadar are facing the same situation.
“I produce at least 400 saris everyday with 40 looms in my factory. Although this is the peak season, 150-200 saris remain unsold everyday due to a poor demand,” said Haji Badsha Miah, a weaver at Dogasi village in Pabna Sadar.
Md Haidar Ali, vice president of Bangladesh Handloom and Power loom Owners’ Association, said there are more than three lakh handlooms in Sirajganj and Pabna.
“Of the total 3.5 lakh looms in nine upazilas of Sirajganj, 2.5 lakh are in operation. And only half of the one lakh handlooms in Pabna are active this year,” Ali said.
“At least 70 percent of the total demand for handloom clothes is met by the weavers in Sirajganj and Pabna,” he added.
Ali said exports of handloom clothes to India fell sharply this year, creating a supply glut in the local market.
“At least 40 percent of the total clothes produced in the Sirajganj-Pabna zone used to go to India every year. But this year, exports declined due to the recent appreciation of the taka,” he said.
“We exported only 10-15 percent this year,” Ali added.
Shahzadpur Tant Kaporer Haat, the biggest wholesale market of handloom products in the country, looks busy ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, but weavers were worried about sales.
The weavers blamed economic hardship of the middle and low-income people for the bleak sales.
According to the association, there are more than 200 big wholesale shops inside the Shahzadpur market and more than 15,000 weavers of the northern districts trade in this market.
“Last year I sold 200-300 saris on every market day during Ramadan. But this year I am selling only 80-100 pieces,” said Md Alauddin, another marginal weaver at Monirampur village who came to the Shahzadpur market to sell his clothes.
The weavers said Eid is the biggest season for them and they make and store handloom saris across the year to sell those before Eid as around half of the total yearly sales come during this season.
But, due to the current slump, they will miss their targets this year.
The weavers also said the turnout of buyers in the Shahzadpur market was huge in the previous years, but the situation is quite disappointing this year, as even the market days look somewhat calm.
This slump in sales could affect the sustainability of the industry, they said.
“Although handloom products worth Tk 200 crore were sold last Ramadan, the sales this year have not crossed 80 crores yet. This is the biggest ever fall in the last 10 years,” said Md Almas Ansari, president of Shahzadpur Handloom Traders’ Association.
He said sales may improve after the 15th of Ramadan, but that would not help recoup the losses.
“The price of paddy was low this year, affecting the incomes of the middle- and low-income people,” Ansari said.
An increased flow of Indian clothes in the Shahzadpur wholesale market also caused the dip in sales of the local handloom products, he added.

-With The Daily Star input

Related News

realme 15 Series to debut as the ultimate AI Party Phone in Bangladesh

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com realme, the youth-favorite smartphone brand, is set to launch its much-anticipated realme 15 series as the ‘AI Party Phone’ on 12 October 2025.The long-awaited return of the series will debut in three versions: realme 15, realme 15 Pro, and realme 15t. This time, customers will have more choice, more power, and ... Read more

One in three graduates remains jobless for up to 2yrs

Finds state-run statistical agency Economy Md Asaduz Zaman One in three university graduates remained unemployed for up to two years while looking for work last year. Of them, one in seven had been without work for between one and two years. In the next category, one in six graduates had been jobless for more than ... Read more

Standard Chartered returns funds after credit card fraud

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Standard Chartered Bangladesh, the biggest multinational bank in the country, has taken steps to refund its credit card customers who fell victim to a string of fraudulent activities. In a statement on 26 September, the bank said that during early September, they received complaints regarding fraudulent transactions from credit cards, through ... Read more

BYD launched its popular electric vehicle Atto 3’s upgraded version in Bangladesh

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com BYD, the leading global New Energy Vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, has launched the upgraded version of its popular electric vehicle, BYD Atto 3, at an exclusive event on 20 September at the BYD Flagship Showroom in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The event was graced by Hafizur Rahman Khan, Chairman of CG RUNNER BD LTD, ... Read more

Ruhul Quddus Khan takes charge as Unilever Bangladesh CEO

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) has appointed Ruhul Quddus Khan as its chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director, with effect from November 1. Ruhul, a career Unilever leader, began his journey with the company in 1996 as a trainee under the Unilever Future Leaders’ Programme at the Kalurghat factory. Over his ... Read more

Samsung TV crowned best brand for 2025-26

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Superbrands has honored Samsung TV with the Best TV Brand award for the second time in a row for its excellence in TV manufacturing at the gala event held on September 20 at Le Méridien Dhaka, said a press rlease on Saturday. This award comes as Samsung TV continues to be ... Read more

Xiaomi launches Redmi Pad 2 in Bangladesh

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Xiaomi has launched the Redmi Pad 2 in Bangladesh, offering an advanced display, long battery life, and enhanced sound to improve the digital experience for local users. The device features an 11-inch 2.5K display with a 90Hz refresh rate, delivering a smooth experience for streaming, content creation, and gaming. Its adaptive ... Read more

Google Pay Launching in Bangladesh Next Week

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Google Pay is set to make its debut in Bangladesh by the middle of next week, ushering in a new era of hassle-free digital transactions for users. In partnership with global payment giants Mastercard and Visa, City Bank will roll out the contactless payment service at the Westin Dhaka hotel on ... Read more

Green Delta launches Bangladesh’s first insurance for pets

Initially, the policy will cover dogs and cats Sukanta Halder Green Delta has launched the country’s first insurance for pets, which the insurer sees as a milestone for the industry. This innovative product provides crucial financial protection for beloved companion animals, covering a range of unforeseen events, including accidental injuries, critical illnesses, and specified diseases, ... Read more

Apex Bangladesh Fashion Legacy 2025 combines cultural heritage with global style trends

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Keeping pace with global fashion trends while celebrating the country’s fashion heritage, innovative designs, and sustainable production, the second edition of the “Apex Bangladesh Fashion Legacy Fashion Show 2025” was held in Dhaka. This grand event took place at the Aloki Convention Hall at 7pm on February 8. The fashion show ... Read more

Walton launches ‘AC Exchange Offer’

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Walton on Wednesday announced launch of ‘AC Exchange Offer’ in which customers can buy Walton’s new air conditioners and get 25 per cent discount in exchange of their used ACs of any brands, said a press release. The company also announced a 5-year warranty facility for some printed circuit board models ... Read more

Grand event ‘GPH Maharaj Darbar’ held by GPH Ispat

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com GPH Ispat Limited, one of the leading manufacturers of steel rebar in Bangladesh, recently organised “GPH Maharaj Darbar-2024.” A total of 185 channel partners of the company across the country participated in the two-day event, according to a press release. The company recognised top-performing partners in various categories based on their ... Read more

SMC’s 50-year journey: innovation and success

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Social Marketing Company (SMC), a not-for-profit organisation, has completed 50 years of remarkable operations in the health sector of Bangladesh. Over the past five decades, the company has achieved significant milestones by marketing innovative products and delivering essential healthcare services. SMC recently organised a programme at the InterContinental Dhaka to celebrate ... Read more

Walton receives orders amounting Tk 350 crore at ATS Expo

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Walton received orders worth around Tk 350 crore from various local and foreign companies at the “Advanced Technology Solution-ATS Expo 2024”, the country’s sole industrial expo organised by tech-giant Walton. SM Mahbubul Alam, managing director of Walton Hi-Tech Industries, provided the disclosure at the event’s closing ceremony. The three-day expo ended ... Read more

Big price drop on Walton desktops, extra 10% off for online orders

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Walton Digi-Tech Industries Limited, the leading technology product manufacturing and marketing company in Bangladesh, has come up with a huge price drop on its desktop computers. This attractive price drop is applicable on the company’s AMD Ryzen™ processor-powered Avian series desktops. Under this, customers are enjoying a minimum price drop of ... Read more

bKash wins Mastercard Excellence Awards

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com bKash, the largest mobile financial service (MFS) provider in Bangladesh, recently won an award at the “Mastercard Excellence Awards” in recognition of its exceptional contributions to advancing financial inclusion and fostering a robust digital economy. The MFS provider was awarded by the US-based digital payment provider in the digital business category ... Read more

Dhaka resident buys Marcel fridge, wins car

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Anisur Rahman, a resident of Uttarkhan, Dhaka, became the first lucky winner of a brand-new car under Marcel’s Digital Campaign Season-21, after purchasing a Marcel refrigerator. This campaign offers customers a chance to win a free car or assured gifts with the purchase of Marcel refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and ... Read more

Banglalink teams up with Vivo to provide special data deals for youth

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Banglalink, the country’s innovative digital operator, has partnered with vivo to launch a data offer specifically designed for tech-savvy youth. This collaboration aims to provide more convenient access to various digital services and exclusive content. Aligned with the ‘Youth’s Choice Smartphone’ proposition, Banglalink is offering 18GB of free data with the ... Read more

Emirates adjudged Best Airline in the World at the ULTRAs 2024 Awards

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Emirates has once again been honored with the title of ‘Best Airline in the World’ at the esteemed ULTRAs 2024 Awards. Recognized by thousands of travelers worldwide, the airline stood out for its outstanding products, innovative services, and exceptional value-for-money experiences. Thierry Aucoc, Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations in Europe ... Read more

Remittance rises in Oct, SOBs log larger share

Business Desk : dhakamirror.com Remittance inflow to Bangladesh increased by more than 21 per cent in October compared with that in the same month in the past year, as expatriates favoured official channels, mainly state-owned banks, following a significant political shift in the country on August 5. Bangladesh Bank data showed that remittance inflows reached ... Read more