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KOLKATA: Thousands of cricket fans from Bangladesh have reached Kolkata to witness the Bangladesh versus Netherlands match on Saturday which will be followed by the Bangladesh versus Pakistan match at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, leaving most hotels on Marquis Street and adjoining areas – known as mini-Bangladesh – occupied after a lull in the flow of tourists from the neighbouring country over the past few months.
TOI had earlier reported that business of hotels and restaurants was affected in this zone as the Indian High Commission in Dhaka was issuing fewer visas prompting the Free School Street Traders Association to write to Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar for increasing the quota of visas.
Association president Monotosh Kumar Saha is happy as business has increased significantly since puja. Business has been down since June, he said. Monotosh Sarkar, another trader association functionary and hotel owner, said that all hotels in the area are booked till November 2. Harmit Singh, a hotel owner on Marquis Street said, “Due to the matches, our rooms are full. Since visas are now being given regularly, we hope to have good business now.”
Kamlesh Saini, manager, Land Port Authority of India at Petrapole, said that due to the festive season, the inflow of Bangladeshi nationals has increased. In normal times, around 3,000 to 3,500 people reach India daily but since mid-October, the inflow has crossed 5,000 daily. On Thursday, it was 6,000 plus and over 80% were Bangladeshi nationals. “Cricket is one of the reasons for this,” said Saini. An MEA official said more visas are now being granted for festivals and cricket matches. Traders on Free School Street were happy with business being back after a lean period that lasted six months.
Sadial Firdous (33) from Dhaka crossed Petrapole border with his five friends on Friday evening and had booked three double-bed rooms at a Marquis Street hotel. “We will leave Kolkata on November 1, after watching two cricket matches here at Eden Gardens,” said an excited Firdous who also has specific plans for shopping and travelling in and around the city.
“All our direct buses to Dhaka from Kolkata are booked till Monday and no seats are available during the return trip. We have 45 seats and run three buses, now all are booked. But till September hardly half were occupied,” said Abani Ghosh of Shyamali Yatri Praivahan.
Masood Parvez, Md Khaled and Saleh Zaman, three childhood friends, checked-in to a hotel on Sudder Street on Friday morning to watch the matches. All three were excited about Saturday’s cricket match. “Usually I stay in hotels near New Town when I come to Indiabut this time we are staying here because of the proximity to the stadium,” said Khaled, a Dhaka-based businessman who visited the city numerous times.
Many college students had also reached the city in groups on Friday evening to witness the cricket matches and were frantically searching for rooms in Esplanade and Marquis Street areas.
TOI had earlier reported that business of hotels and restaurants was affected in this zone as the Indian High Commission in Dhaka was issuing fewer visas prompting the Free School Street Traders Association to write to Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar for increasing the quota of visas.
Association president Monotosh Kumar Saha is happy as business has increased significantly since puja. Business has been down since June, he said. Monotosh Sarkar, another trader association functionary and hotel owner, said that all hotels in the area are booked till November 2. Harmit Singh, a hotel owner on Marquis Street said, “Due to the matches, our rooms are full. Since visas are now being given regularly, we hope to have good business now.”
Kamlesh Saini, manager, Land Port Authority of India at Petrapole, said that due to the festive season, the inflow of Bangladeshi nationals has increased. In normal times, around 3,000 to 3,500 people reach India daily but since mid-October, the inflow has crossed 5,000 daily. On Thursday, it was 6,000 plus and over 80% were Bangladeshi nationals. “Cricket is one of the reasons for this,” said Saini. An MEA official said more visas are now being granted for festivals and cricket matches. Traders on Free School Street were happy with business being back after a lean period that lasted six months.
Sadial Firdous (33) from Dhaka crossed Petrapole border with his five friends on Friday evening and had booked three double-bed rooms at a Marquis Street hotel. “We will leave Kolkata on November 1, after watching two cricket matches here at Eden Gardens,” said an excited Firdous who also has specific plans for shopping and travelling in and around the city.
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Masood Parvez, Md Khaled and Saleh Zaman, three childhood friends, checked-in to a hotel on Sudder Street on Friday morning to watch the matches. All three were excited about Saturday’s cricket match. “Usually I stay in hotels near New Town when I come to Indiabut this time we are staying here because of the proximity to the stadium,” said Khaled, a Dhaka-based businessman who visited the city numerous times.
Many college students had also reached the city in groups on Friday evening to witness the cricket matches and were frantically searching for rooms in Esplanade and Marquis Street areas.
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