The demand for Bangladeshi clothing, food and other items has increased greatly in the Emirates around the holy month of Ramadan. Especially the market for traditional semai, polawa rice, jaggery, spices, halim ingredients, and Bangladeshi clothing is quite bustling. Traders say that their business activities have increased several times with Ramadan and the upcoming Eid.

Currently, there are about 10 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates living in the Emirates, who are engaged in various professions. Most of them are particularly interested in traditional Bangladeshi food and clothing during Ramadan, which increases the demand for these products in the local market.

It has been seen in various Bangladeshi supermarkets and grocery stores in the Emirates that expatriates have a great interest in Bangladeshi food for iftar and sehri. Rashedul Islam, the owner of Bangladesh Supermarket, said, "When Ramadan comes, the crowd of customers increases in our stores. Especially the sales of chira, muri, jaggery, semai, dates and milk have increased several times."

Engineer Shahidul Islam, a hotelier in the Sharjah area, said that he has introduced a special Iftar menu as expatriates are more interested in Bangladeshi food during Ramadan. Every day, iftar at his hotel includes beguni, piyaju, halim, jilapi, khichuri, beef and various fillings.

He said that our Iftar items are very popular. Many expatriates order every day, especially those who are bachelors, they come more often.

Eid shopping has started before the end of the month of Ramadan. There is a lot of interest in Punjabis, saris, salwar-kameez, fatua and children's clothes imported from Bangladesh.

Fazlur Rahman, the owner of a Bangladeshi clothing store in Dubai, said that ahead of Eid, we have brought a lot of new designs of Punjabis and saris from Bangladesh. Many buyers are placing orders in advance.

Traders say that the market is quite good this time. The demand for Bangladeshi clothes is increasing day by day because they are of high quality and affordable. The month of Ramadan is the best time for them to buy and sell. However, there are some challenges due to the increase in the cost of importing goods and rent.

This market is very dynamic as about 10 lakh Bangladeshi expatriates in the Emirates are especially interested in Bangladeshi food and clothing during Ramadan. As the traders are passing through a busy time, the expatriates are also happy to get a touch of Bangladeshi taste and culture. It is expected that this market will be even more lively as Eid approaches.

Ukraine has agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal put forward by the US. Now a ceasefire is possible only if Putin agrees. At the same time, the US has agreed to provide military assistance and intelligence information to Ukraine again.

A joint statement from Kiev was issued after the US-Ukraine dialogue in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday (March 11).

The statement said that Ukraine has agreed to the US proposal to immediately implement an interim ceasefire with Russia for 30 days and start talks to permanently end the war.

Marco Rubio was accompanied by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Szybiga, and the country's Chief of Staff to the President's Office Andrey Yermak at the meeting in Jeddah. However, no Russian representative was present at the meeting.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio played a leadership role in the meeting. He said that the ceasefire proposal will be taken to Moscow and said, "Hopefully, the Russians will agree to the ceasefire." Regarding the ceasefire proposal, the US Secretary of State said, "Going beyond the proposal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a partial ceasefire at sea and in the air, our proposal is to cease fire."

Ramadan brings a different experience for Bangladeshi expatriates living in Dubai, the heart of the United Arab Emirates. Along with observing religious precepts, they spend their days working hard.

Bangladeshi expatriates working in various organizations in Dubai usually work an average of 8-10 hours. However, during the month of Ramadan, working hours are reduced slightly in government and some private organizations, which is a relief for expatriates. Many work in the construction, retail, delivery, or hospitality sectors, where working for long hours while fasting becomes challenging.

During Ramadan, iftar distribution is organized in mosques and immigrant-populated areas in the United Arab Emirates by government, private, and various charity organizations. These iftar packets contain various types of iftar items including dates, water, juice, fruits, meat, and biryani. Many expatriates collect iftar from these places to avoid the hassle of preparing iftar at home due to their busy schedules. After Asr prayers, local residents can also be seen distributing iftar to passersby.

The practice of organizing iftar among expatriates is quite old. Many people gather at mosques, workplaces or with friends to break the fast. Bangladeshi hotels and restaurants in Dubai have a large selection of local dishes including chickpeas, onion, beguni, jilapi and haleem. These restaurants are crowded just before iftar. Iftar is also organized by various social and political organizations.

In the last decade of Ramadan, expatriates start preparing for Eid. They plan to buy new clothes, send gifts to their families and spend time with their loved ones during the Eid holidays. Some try to return home during the Eid holidays, but many share the joy of Eid with their relatives through video calls due to their busy schedules.

According to the expatriates, in Bangladesh, like in Arab countries, iftar arrangements should be made for all classes of fasting people by the initiatives of wealthy and voluntary organizations.

Farid Uddin, a construction worker in Dubai, said, “Although it is difficult to work during Ramadan, Alhamdulillah, Allah gives strength. The locals help a lot for iftar. Moreover, the mentality of cooperating with each other is very high among the Bangladeshi community.”

Farhad Ahmed, a restaurant worker, said, “Iftar arrangements are very well organized in Dubai. Our restaurant also has a special iftar menu, which brings extra joy to Bangladeshi expatriates. Eating local food makes you feel like you are in Bangladesh.”

Asma Akhtar, a senior official in an office, said, “During Ramadan, there is a kind of loneliness in expatriates. However, the atmosphere in the mosques here is so good that the mind settles down for worship. "Even in the midst of a busy schedule, I can find time for iftar and prayers, which adds to the importance of Ramadan." For Bangladeshi expatriates in Dubai, Ramadan is not just a month of worship, but also a symbol of mutual cooperation and unity. Despite their busy schedules, they celebrate Ramadan by maintaining religious rituals and social ties. 

The global trade war between economic superpowers has created economic crises for some countries, but it has also brought opportunities for many.

According to economists, US President Donald Trump's tariff on imports from some countries, including China, is bringing benefits to some countries, including Bangladesh. An additional 10 percent tariff has been imposed on Chinese products. This has emerged as a possibility for Bangladeshi entrepreneurs as US buyer companies have withdrawn their purchase orders from China.

As Bangladesh's garment exports to the US exceeded 80 crore dollars in January of this year, analysts believe that this indicates new prospects for Bangladesh's ready-made garment exports to the US market. According to a report published in the newspaper, this export growth is 45.93 percent higher than the same period last year. In January of last year, the country's exporters were able to export garments worth 54 crore 79 lakh dollars.

Not only that, this growth is much higher than competing countries like China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India. Regaining a strong foothold in the US market after a long time is seen as a potential opportunity for the country's garment sector.

According to the latest statistics from the Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) under the US Department of Commerce, US importers imported 720 crore worth of ready-made garments from different countries around the world in January. In January last year, they imported 603 crore dollars worth of garments. This means that US ready-made garment imports increased by 19.5 percent in January this year.

Although there was no major growth at the end of 2024, Bangladesh's garment sector has returned to a positive trend. In total, 734 crore dollars worth of ready-made garments were exported from Bangladesh last year. This export is 0.75 percent more than in 2023. Exports to the US market decreased by 25 percent to $7.29 billion in 2023 due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Within two weeks of US President Donald Trump taking office, the imposition of additional tariffs on imports of goods from Canada, Mexico and China has brought new potential to the market, industry stakeholders believe.

They say that an additional 10 percent tariff has been imposed on Chinese products. This will cause US buyers to shift their purchase orders from China. As a result, there will be an opportunity for Bangladesh to get additional purchase orders. Investors may even be interested in moving factories from China to other countries. Bangladesh can also take that investment opportunity.

According to the latest data from the US Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA), the United States imported 720 crore dollars worth of ready-made garments in January, which is 19.4 percent more than last year. China exported the most garments, amounting to 603 crore dollars. Next is Vietnam, which exported 144 crore dollars worth of garments. However, Bangladesh has achieved much higher growth compared to them, which indicates a stronger position in the country's market.

Bangladeshi entrepreneurs say that US buyers are considering Bangladesh as a more attractive source due to its low production costs and skilled labor force. Especially if the government can ensure gas and electricity supply, Bangladesh can achieve greater growth and become the second top exporter in the US market.

According to the concerned, another reason for the growth of Bangladesh's exports to the US market is the country's buyers' trust in reliability and quality. In the past few years, Bangladeshi garment factories have established production systems in an improved environment following international standards. Due to increasing the skills of workers, developing technology, sustainable production systems and building good relationships with various international brands, the Bangladeshi garment industry is now much more competitive than before. Experts say that if Bangladesh wants to take a stronger position in the export market, it must ensure infrastructural development, uninterrupted supply of gas and electricity. In addition, emphasis should be placed on diversifying production, exploring new markets and producing high-value garments. Positive growth in the US market shows a ray of hope for Bangladesh, which indicates greater success in the days to come.