After a year-long hiatus forced by political instability and travel restrictions, traders from Bangladesh have made a welcome return to the Bidhannagar Mela Utsav in Kolkata. The annual fair, organized by the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC), commenced at the Salt Lake Central Park fairground on Monday, featuring the much-missed garment and saree stalls from across the border.
A Festive Comeback for Cross-Border Commerce
The inauguration ceremony was attended by BMC mayor Krishna Chakraborty, Bidhannagar MLA and minister Sujit Bose, along with other cabinet ministers and civic councillors. Mayor Chakraborty announced that the fair will host approximately 500 stalls this edition. Civic officials highlighted that the Bangladeshi stalls, especially those selling garments and sarees, are historically a major crowd-puller.
"For Bangladeshi sarees, one does not have to go to Bangladesh. Not one or two, but many Bangladesh saree stalls have come up here," remarked BMC chairperson Sabyasachi Dutta, underscoring the fair's role in bringing a slice of Bangladeshi culture and craftsmanship to Kolkata's doorstep.
Overcoming Hurdles for Participation
This year, 14 stalls have been reserved for Bangladeshi traders. While 13 of these stalls measure 250 square feet each, one stall occupies a larger space of 500 square feet. Their return, however, came with increased challenges and costs. Traders cited a volatile political situation and stringent visa processes as significant hurdles they had to overcome.
"Many of us could not come to this fair last year due to the volatile situation. Despite various restrictions in place, this year we have decided to participate in the fair by paying more for our visa," explained Md Ratan, a trader from Dhaka.
A staff member at a Jamdani saree stall from Dhaka's Rangpur area echoed the sentiment, expressing relief at being back. "Last time there was a lot of trouble. This year we have come with a business visa. We had to submit all the related documents which were thoroughly scrutinised since getting a visa is now tough. We hope for good business this time," he said.
Hope for Revival and Enthusiastic Response
A seasoned participant from Noakhali, who has been attending the fair for the last 18 years, noted that business had suffered last year due to the tensions. "This year we are expecting business to pick up again. We have returned to Kolkata and hope things will be what they used to be," he shared optimistically.
The sentiment was warmly reciprocated by visitors on the opening day. Residents like Sarmistha Ganguly from Salt Lake expressed their delight, stating, "We always visit the stalls in this fair but missed out on the opportunity last time." The fair will continue until December 21, offering Kolkatans an extended period to explore the diverse offerings, with the Bangladeshi section once again being a central attraction.
