RAJSHAHI, April 16, 2023 (BSS) - Most of the boutique houses are passing
their busiest days as demand for their finished products has been enhanced to
a greater extent ahead of the Eid festival in the city and its outskirts and
adjacent areas.
 
They are doing brisk business to meet up the gradually mounting demands of
boutique finished products. "I'm very much satisfied with my boutique
business as the demand for its finished products is gradually mounting," said
Iffat Ara, director of Angana Mahila Samity in the city.

Ahead of the Eid, the extent of works has been enhanced to a greater extent.
"We have founded 'Angana Boutique and Fashion' and are operating successfully
making more than 100 women income-generators," she added.
 
Similarly, Daudpur Mahila Kalyan Samity is running Shefali Boutique and
Mohona Mahila Kalyan Samity's Mohona Boutiques transformed at least 175 other
women self-reliant.
 
Monira Khatun, President of Mohila Kolyan Samity, termed the venture as an
effective means of women empowerment and social contribution.

Amena Begum, owner of Maisha Boutique and Fashion House at Upashahar
Koyerdara in the city, narrated her success story.

She supplies goods of order to different parts of the country successfully.
More than 100 women coming from underprivileged and disadvantaged families
are working in her boutique industry as labourers.

"We supply our finished goods to more than 14-15 districts including Dhaka,"
said Tahmina Akhter Minu, owner of Mini Boutique House in Shapura area.

"We have linked around 50 women with skill development training for their
livelihood," said Anwara Begum, president of Dashmari Distressed Women
Welfare Association.
 
After completing their training they are doing block, boutique and embroidery
works in their respective areas and many of them attained their long-
cherished economic emancipation.
 
Anwara Begum said the boutique houses were established and operated with
assistance from the district women affairs office.
 
Shobnom Shirin, Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs, told BSS
that they are working relentlessly for women empowerment through business
promotion for them.
 
Apart from the boutique houses, tailors are having busy times ahead of the
upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Many of them have already stopped taking orders.

There has been a sudden rush at the tailoring houses after the 15th day of
Ramadan, said Hasan Ali, owner of PoP Tailors in the city's Jamal
Supermarket.

He also said he has already hired extra hands to meet the supply schedule in
time. Some 20 tailors are working in his tailoring shop day and night.

 A large number of people, especially women and girls, are seen crowding the
tailoring shops of the city.

Despite the availability of readymade garments, the demand for tailored
clothes has not diminished,

He said they are getting orders for trousers, shirts, suits, safaris and
kabli. He also said they would continue taking orders until the 20th day of
Ramadan. There is little time to rest because of the huge workload, he added.

Saima Akter, owner of Fashion Ladies' Tailors in the city's Shaheb Bazar
area, said readymade dresses invariably need some alteration.

"For nice fitting, women and girls come to tailors even if they buy stitched
dresses from boutiques", she added.

Kaniz Parvin, a housewife, came to Fashion Ladies' Tailors to order salwar
kameez for Eid. She said that she often buys readymade garments, but usually
prefers tailored outfits that are a must for Eid.

However, there has been a sudden rush of customers at her shop over the past
three days, she added.

Soheli said the month of Ramadan is always good for business. "In fact, this
is the only time we manage to make some profit," she added.

Motaleb Hossain, a dressmaker of Soheli Tailors, said workers in the shop
have been working round the clock without any break to complete the orders
and deliver them in time. Stitching charges have gone up a bit for Eid as
they are putting in extra effort during this time, he added.