Gift item vendors said they had seen substantial fall in sales due to political unrest even though this is usually a peak season as Valentine's Day and Pahela Falgun are ahead.
“In my shop, sales have dropped by around 65% this time compared to the same time last year,” Toufiqur Rahman Sathi, a sales executive of Archies Gallery at the New Market, told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
He said they had stockpiled new gift items targeting the Valentine's Day and first day of Bengali month Falgun which welcomes the season of Spring.
On these two occasions, people offer gifts to their loved and dear ones, but the ongoing political violence keeps them from visiting shops.
“Customers are very few. The situation is so worrying that we may become bankrupt,” Toufiqur Rahman said.
Mobarak Hossain, branch in-charge of Nipun Craft Limited at the Bashundhara City in Dhaka, said they had designed over 50 items including salwar kameez, sari, fatua and punjabi.
“But sales have declined over 50% as the political unrest continues,” he said.
“Our investment targeting the two occasions is at stake. I fear if the situation worsens further we won't be able to realise even 50% of the invested money,” said Hossain.
He added people's incomes have also been affected by the turmoil, which may be discouraging them to buy gifts. Besides, high-income people do not come to buy presents risking attacks in the violence, he said.
Biswajit Malakar, branch in-charge of Anjons at Bashundhara City, said the sale of dresses for the occasions usually begins in the first week of February, but the customers are visiting in few numbers since the beginning of the non-stop blockade called by BNP-led alliance from January 6.
"The number of customers only increase now only on Fridays and Saturdays (weekly holidays). But business on two days only (in a week) is not enough to get returns (of investment),” Biswajit said.
He feared 60% of the collections would remain unsold.
Halmark owner Harun Ar Rashid had not sees such a dull business before in his 48 years of involvement.
“I never saw such dull days before like this year's.”
Harun said he already needed to cut jobs and borrow money to pay salaries of the remaining workforce.
Md Parvez, a sales executive of gift items shop Showcase at the Bashundhara City, also lamented that the sales had suffered drastic fall.
Tahmina Akter, a housewife residing in the city's Mirpur, said she wanted to buy dresses for herself and her husband to celebrate Pahela Falgun, but the political situation hadn't permit her to go out.
“We are concerned of our security and not in a mood of celebrations,” she said.
Arif Ahmed (pseudonym), a first-year student at the Dhaka University, said this would be his first Valentine's Day after he fell in love.
“But I cannot buy any gift for my girl friend according to her choice as she is not allowed to come out during the blockade,” he said.