Business takes a hit in mini-Bangla’s first post-Cov Ramzan without B’desh tourists
Times of India | 9 March 2025
1234 Kolkata: The absence of Bangladeshi tourists due to the turmoil in the neighbouring nation has taken a toll on businesses in the New Market area this Ramzan, with many retailers reporting a sharp dip in sales. This is the first time since the pandemic that Bangladeshi tourists are absent from the shopping scene in this pocket.
According to shop owners in New Market, Treasure Island, Simpark Mall, and other markets in the area, Bangladeshis account for almost 50% to 55% of the total business. "In Ramzan, the number is even higher as Bangladeshis start shopping for Eid even before Ramzan. By the first week of the fasting month, shopping peaks and continues till a few days before Eid when tourists head back home. But this year, there have hardly been any Bangladeshi tourists, dealing a blow to our business," said Hyder Ali Khan, general secretary of the Free School Street Traders' Association.
The over-dependence on Bangladeshi tourists is due to a lack of parking space and encroachments, which cause several Kolkatans to avoid shopping in the New Market area. Tourists stay in hotels in the vicinity, so they do not face these problems.
But since June last year, cross-border tourism has dipped by almost 80% due to the political and economic turmoil in Bangladesh. "A handful of tourists who are coming to Kolkata are visiting for medical reasons," said Maqsood Ahmed, a garments shop owner in Shreeram Arcade.
The turmoil in Bangladesh has not only affected the tourism sector but also the retailers who rely heavily on these visitors. They are now grappling with the absence of their key clientele. At Simpark Mall the story is similar. Afroz Khan, a shop owner, said, "Durga Puja and Ramzan have always been a season when we look forward to. Bangladeshi tourists form the bulk of shoppers for Eid. This year, the footfall has been much lower, making it difficult to make up for the losses."
Lalit Agarwal, a retailer at Treasure Island, said, "From 2020 till 2022, there were hardly any tourists as the pandemic situation in Bangladesh was not in control. In the last two years, the sales were good as there were lots of tourists. The lull is back again this year."
Retailers in SS Hogg Market and Bertram Street are also feeling the pressure. Sarfaraz Ahmed, who runs a clothing store in SS Hogg Market, said, "This is not a good sign for the long-term impact on New Market's economy. Local businesses, which have already been hit by a range of economic and socio-political reasons, now face additional difficulty to recover from the dipping footfall."
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's Day wishes, messages and quotes !