Amid ongoing unrest and reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, traders from neighboring countries were absent from the Kolkata trade fair, but local traders stepped up to man their stalls and sell their products, stakeholders said on Thursday.
Traders known for selling traditional Jamdani sarees and FMCG products at Indian trade fairs are unable to attend the makeshift markets “due to visa restrictions in Bangladesh following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the human rights crisis there,” they said. .
At least seven Bangladeshi businessmen, who were scheduled to participate in the India International Grand Trade Fair (IIGTF), which started from November 30 in New Town on the eastern edge of Kolkata, were “unable to get visas”, according to the organizers.
Generally, these international traders participate in several trade fairs held in Kolkata and other Indian cities during the winter season from February-March every year, said the fair organizer.
“According to our information, seven Bangladeshi businessmen were supposed to come to this fair but could not come due to visa issues,” said India Chamber of Commerce President NG Khaitan. PTI.
India Chamber of Commerce organized the fair in collaboration with CCG Marketing and Services.
Traders from eight international countries and 16 Indian states are participating in the IIGTF 2024 fair, which will run till December 15.
“Bangladeshi fashion items and sarees sent to the neighboring country before the crisis escalated are still available in some stalls, thanks to their local partners,” said a trader.
“These are original Dhakai Jamdani sarees,” said a local businessman acting on behalf of a Bangladeshi businessman, but declined to elaborate.
Product spreads were thin as traders from neighboring countries could not come up with their wider offerings due to political and social unrest, traders in Kolkata said.
Local stakeholders have also suspected that the sales of Bangladeshi goods will decrease due to consumer sentiment after the news of atrocities on Hindus in neighboring countries.
“The absence of Bangladeshi traders is keenly felt, as they usually account for a significant portion of saree sales at trade fairs in Kolkata,” said another organizer.