Cumilla winter clothing traders face heavy losses if severe cold delays
Moshiur Rahman Selim, Cumilla South
Winter clothing traders across the southern upazilas of Cumilla—including Laksam, Lalmai, Nangalkot, and Monohargonj—are facing potential financial losses running into millions of taka if the upcoming winter season experiences mild temperatures due to shifting climate patterns.
Traders in major commercial centers across the four upazilas are currently stocking their shops with various local and imported branded winter garments. Business owners reported that heavy financial losses from previous mild winters, coupled with political instability and the aftermath of devastating floods last year, have left many local apparel merchants under severe economic strain. Hundreds of thousands of taka in unsold inventory from prior seasons remain stored in warehouses.
To recover past losses, many shop owners in key commercial hubs—such as Laksam Daulatganj Bazar—have procured new inventory using bank loans, credit from local financial organizations, and private borrowing. However, merchants noted that the overall rural economy in Cumilla's southern region remains stagnant, compounding anxiety over market demand.
Laksam clothing traders stated that unsold winter garments worth tens of millions of taka accumulated over previous years due to shortened cold spells.
Business owners emphasized that their commercial recovery hinges entirely on weather conditions this season, as a failure to experience a prolonged cold wave would prevent them from clearing both stored inventory and newly acquired stock.
