Baburhat Market at Shekherchar in Narsingdi district, one of the main hubs of hand-loom clothes in Bangladesh has seen an increased flow of buyers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
Abdullah-Al-Mamun, chairman of Narsingdi Commerce and Industry, said: “The market, situated beside the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, 40 km north-east of Dhaka, has become a popular destination for wholesale traders and buyers for the availability of a wide range of home-grown tant and easy access from major cities of the country.”
When visited the market on Friday, the traders were found stocking up local clothes such as saris, lungis, three-pieces, shirt pieces, punjabi clothes, traditional cotton towels and various fabrics which are being brought from across the country.
There are about 3,500 shops in the market which are operated from Thursday to Sunday.
Though the Eid is more than two weeks away, buyers from various parts of the country are already thronging the market to buy sari and lungi for zakaat.
Over the years, Narsingdi has become home to a number of garments factories producing local apparel. All those major companies have showrooms in Baburhat. Besides, weavers from Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj and other parts of the country also bring their clothes to Baburhat.
Everyday more than 500 trucks carry clothes to other parts of the country from dawn to late night.
Helal Uddin, chairman of Amanat Shah Group, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had introduced a range of new designs for lungi and sari this year.
Assistant General Manager of Pakiza Fabrics Collection, Shangkar Saha, said Baburhat had been drawing more buyers because of its comparatively cheaper clothes and better quality.
Proprietor of Bokhari Lungi, Asaduzzaman Asad expressed satisfaction over the business. He said the market was busier than previous years.
Meanwhile, Abdul Barek, president of Shekherchar-Baburhat Banik Samity, said: “We can make much profit this year because of political stability in the country.”
“During each weekend, we are selling clothes worth Tk15,000 crore,” he said.