Flower sales decline in Dhaka

Flower sales at Bangladeshi capital Dhaka’s Shahbagh have been facing a significant decline due to ongoing political instability and lack of public programmes as Victory Day approaches, which is usually the peak selling season for flowers. Traders said that the business at the capital’s primary and historic flower market had nearly come to a standstill during this otherwise busy time.

Abul Kalam, president of the Bangladesh Small Flower Traders’ Association, told New Age that they had 55 registered sellers at Shahbagh.

‘Since August 5 of last year, we have been in debt due to lukewarm demand and sluggishness in trade,’ he added.

Kalam, also a flower seller for more than three decades at Shahbagh, also said that unless the country’s situation improved, programmes would not be organised properly and their business would not grow. December, January and February are usually the peak business season for flower traders as demand for flowers surges significantly during these months, thanks to events such as Victory Day, Language Martyrs’ Day, Valentine’s Day and Independence Day.