Kite sales soar in Gazipur
Business is flying high for kite makers and kite sellers in Gazipur as the demand for kites has suddenly soared amid the coronavirus outbreak.
As people must practice social distancing, kite flying has become a favourite pastime over the past three months. This has opened new avenue for the traditional kite sellers as well as new faces turning to the business after having lost their jobs.
The kites are of different themes including drums, hawks, owls, octopus, butterflies, fish, diamonds, bats, aircraft and so on. The price ranges from 15 to 500 taka. A special kite called ‘lighting’ sells at 1,000 to 2,500 taka.
Sanjay Chattopadhyay, who has been selling kites for over 14 years, said he sold 20,000-25,000 kites over the last three months while 8,000-10,000 were sold in total last year. He owns a shop near Joydebpur Kalibari temple in Gazipur. He always has stocked kites along with other item, but now one-third of the goods are kites.
“Customers crowd my shop in the afternoon. Kites were sold once or twice a year during the festivals, but nowadays I can hardly cope with the demand,” said the 32-year-old businessman.
Due to the surging demand, Habibur Rahman who was a rickshaw-puller, has turned a full-time kite seller. Earlier, he made kites occasionally for an extra income. He has set up a shop in the locality. “I had no work during the lockdown. Last three months I just sold kites and it made my living,” Habibur said.
Mukhlesur Rahman, a retailer, said he had quit his job during the lockdown and was jobless for few days. Later, he took up the kite trade. He buys these from Shankharibazar in Dhaka and supplies the local shops in Gazipur.
Similarly, increased supply of kites was found at the shops at Jorpukur, Shibbari intersection, Board Bazar, Jhajore, Kazibari, Natun Bazar, College Gate, Tongi Bazar, river port and so on.
The kites are of different themes including drums, hawks, owls, octopus, butterflies, fish, diamonds, bats, aircraft and so on. The price ranges from 15 to 500 taka. A special kite called ‘lighting’ sells at 1,000 to 2,500 taka.
The price of kites has risen due to increased demand. Md. Abu Hanif, a kite trader fromm Tongi river port area, said this was due to the craftsmen charging more for their kites.