Women's SME expo abuzz with visitors in Ctg

Visitors flock to a stall in the sixth International Women's SME Expo-2012 at the Polo Ground in Chittagong. The fair that began on November 17 saw huge customers' turnout on Friday. Photo: Prabir Das

Thousands flocked to the ongoing Women's SME Exposition in the port city yesterday hoping to catch a bargain or two.
The exposition saw a foot count of around 35,000 yesterday, said the exposition's management committee, with garments, crockery and jewellery stalls being the most popular among the visitors.
Many, however, were left disappointed by the high prices being charged at the fair.
“Being a man of low income, prices of products on display are beyond my reach,” said Md Khalil, a vegetable vendor.
While some claimed that stall owners were deceiving the customers in the name of discounts.
“Stall owners are charging customers exorbitant prices for low-quality, even substandard products,” said Saydul Alam Mallik, a lawyer.
Pilu Kumar Das, a private job holder, who came with his wife and son, echoed Mallik's views.
“People like us come to such exhibitions to pick the best bargains of products. But, in fact, we are fooled as the stall owners make us spend too much through the so-called discounts.”
The stall owners, however, denies the visitors' claims, saying they are offering discounts on the best-quality products due to the intense competition.
Some stall owners said their sales receipts in the past two weeks have been below their expectation, and now fear if they would be able to get return on their capital.
Meanwhile, the exposition, which was supposed to end on December 17, has been extended till December 25, to make up for the poor turnout on the back of the recent spate of hartals and road blockades.
“We are trying to extend the exposition to 28th instant,” said GA Rayhan, an official of the exposition committee.
The fair, in its sixth year,
has been organised by the Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the aim to promote women entrepreneurship.