Islampur in the capital's Old Dhaka has a reputation as a wholesale market for ready-made garments in the country. Although better known as a wholesale market, there are also a number of retail stores. Especially those who buy clothes and make clothes, their favorite is Islampur. Islampur in Old Dhaka is one of the oldest and most traditional wholesale markets in the country and a huge market for sari cloth. The traders here claim that the prices of the products here are lower than the other shops in the capital.
And for this reason, the Islampur market is full of wholesale and retail buyers from different parts of the country. Although Baburhat of Narsingdi and Rupganj of Narsingdi are known for their large textile business in the country, the Islampur market is a little more appreciated by the traders of the country due to the variety of fabrics. Therefore, wholesalers and retailers from different parts of the country including New Market, Gauchia, Chandni Chowk, Mirpur, Dhanmondi, Magbazar, Sadarghat are coming to Islampur to buy clothes ahead of Eid and other festivals.
Last week we friends went to Islampur in old Dhaka. First, we go by bus from Dhanmondi to Tatibazar. I go to Islampur market by rickshaw from Tanti Bazar. Fairs of local and foreign clothes are held in this market. This is the best market for those who buy clothes and make garments.
During the Mughal period, the area was named Islampur after Islam Kha Chishti, subedar of Bengal. The wholesale cloth business started here during the English period from 1773. But before that, it is known that there was a business of different fruits in Islampur. Apart from domestic cloth, there are also foreign cloth stores in this market. In all, there are about 10 thousand businessmen in Islampur. There are about 2 lakh workers in these business establishments. Hundreds of crores worth of clothes are sold every day. On Eid, it sells clothes worth over 1 thousand crore.
There are many cloth markets all over Islampur. There are about 12 thousand wholesale and retail shops in the whole area including AC Market, Hamid Mansion, China Market, Nawabbari Gate. Some sell shirt fabrics, some sell pant fabrics. In some shops only bedsheets and curtains are available. There are some markets where only pelisse fabrics are sold. Islampur Road, Ahsanullah Road and Nawabbari Road are all narrow and busy roads. In the meanwhile, the work of loading and unloading of goods is going on. There is no way to drive or walk.