Shaoil Bazar: A Tk300cr winter clothing market

People were busy loading trucks with various winter clothing and blankets.

The open-air market at Shaoil Bazar sits twice a week – on Sundays and Wednesdays – with sales reaching about Tk3 crore.

Winter clothing worth about Tk1 crore is sold at this wholesale market, the biggest of its kind outside Dhaka, on a single day.

However, just 20 years ago, this was a small market in Nashratpur union of Adamdighi upazila, Bogura. Over time, it flourished into a large market which sells blankets, sweaters, shawls, socks, hand gloves, towel and some other items worth around Tk300 crore annually. 

What is unique about this market is that all of its products are made by handlooms.

Earlier, residents of Adamdighi, Dupchachia, Sonatola and Shibganj upazila of the district produced the items at their homes. Later, people in Kalai, Khetlal and Akkelpur upazila of Joypurhat and in Raninagar of Naogaon got involved in weaving winter clothing, blankets and towels at their homes. 

At present, about 50,000 people are working in this sector now.

"The market gained popularity among customers for its quality products and fair dealings," said Mofazzal Hossain, president of Nasratpur Weavers' Association.

The winter clothing from this market were being exported to Europe and South Asian countries like India, Nepal and Bhutan for several years, he added.

The most popular items sold at the market are blankets, shawls and sweaters.

The highest price of a shawl is between Tk900 and Tk1,000, while blankets are sold at for Tk130-Tk450.

Sweaters cost between Tk250 and Tk600 at Shaoil Bazar. 

During the winter of 2017, Mofazzal sold goods worth Tk1.25 crore at the market. This year, he hopes to do business worth about Tk1.5 crore as the wholesalers have already started placing more orders than the previous time.

Mir Kasem, another small trader, said "This year, I am getting more orders.  I hope I can sell clothes worth Tk3 lakh."

Last year, sales dropped as the winter in 2018 was not particularly cold.

However, traders are hoping it will be different this year. 

With the expansion of the business, production has also increased, creating employment opportunities for local people. 

Faruk Hossain, 25, who works as a weaver in Baraka Traders, said, "I was unemployed two and half years back. Now I work here. I earn Tk10,000 to Tk12,000 every month and can bear the expenses of a three-member family." 

Mostakim Hossain, 25, another weaver, said he earns Tk9,000 to Tk10,000 every month.  

"I am now living a better life with my mother and my brother. I am now self-reliant," he added.