The mela at BSCIC offers handicrafts, clothes and other items at reasonable prices.

Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), is holding a five-day long fair and handicrafts exhibition at its Motijheel office, starting from September 21. Titled "Sharat Mela 1415" the fair is an initiative by BSCIC to promote handicrafts and also to create employment opportunities. Every year BSCIC organises four seasonal fairs -- "Borsha Mela," "Sharat Mela," "Poush Mela" and "Bashanto Mela."
The products displayed at the fair highlight BSCIC course graduates. BSCIC organises courses round the year on 11 subjects including block and boutique printing, leather work, Bamboo work, pottery, carpentry, iron work, items made out of jute, screen printing, packaging and weaving.
On September 21, the fair was inaugurated by Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, chairman, BSCIC. Mohammad Abul Hossain Mian, joint secretary, Ministry of Industry, was present as the special guest. Employees and officials of BSCIC were also present on the occasion. A brief certificate-giving programme was also held at the venue.
Certificates were handed to 113 trainees, who earlier attended the course at the BSCIC design centre.
With a wide range of saris, shalwar kameez, fatua, panjabi and a variety of clothes for children, the mela is drawing a large number of people especially women and middle class consumers.
The mela also includes items like nakshikatha, items made of wood and jute, bangles and other costume jewellery and so on. But the majority of the stalls feature clothes.
"We have a lot of items here but saris top the sales," said Sakhina Begun, a stall owner at the fair.
Saris available at the fair feature mainly Jamdani, block prints and weaving.
Again many are coming to the fair to buy zakat items. Abul Hassan, a visitor at the fair said, "Saris and shirts are much cheaper here and the quality is quite good, so I bought my zakat items from here."
The fair ends today.