Migrant Vendors Eye Seasonal Profits as World Cup Fever Grips Dhaka

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As the FIFA World Cup approaches, a surge of seasonal vendors has descended upon Dhaka, hoping to capitalize on the fervent national support for top-tier football teams. Drawn from districts across Bangladesh, these temporary merchants are navigating the capital’s busy streets, offering an array of national flags, jerseys, and fan memorabilia to help bolster their modest household incomes.

Among those seeking opportunity is Tamim Badsha, a college student from Habiganj, who arrived in the capital two days ago with his brother, Tanvir. Clad in a yellow Brazilian jersey, Tamim spends his afternoons navigating the intersections of Shahbagh, his arms laden with flags representing Argentina, Brazil, and Germany. For Tamim, the endeavor is a necessity born of financial hardship; his father’s scrap metal business barely sustains the family. By leveraging the expertise of his uncle, a local street vendor, the brothers procure their stock from the wholesale hub of Chawkbazar to resell in public spaces like the Central Shaheed Minar and Katabon.

This pattern of seasonal migration is mirrored by Liton Mia, who traveled from Gopalganj alongside five others from his hometown. Having made this trek periodically since the 2018 World Cup, Liton balances this temporary trade with his year-round work selling cosmetics at village fairs. He notes that the commercial viability of his venture is inextricably linked to the performance of the world’s most popular football teams. According to Liton, sales are currently brisk, with an average daily profit of 1,000 to 1,500 taka, but he expects interest to wane once Argentina and Brazil are eliminated from the tournament.

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The sentiment is shared by vendors across the city, including those who have integrated flag sales into their existing routines. Monir Hossain, a security guard at an ATM booth, has set up a mobile stall at the TSC campus to supplement his 8,000-taka monthly salary. In addition to flags, he markets keychains, masks, and stickers painted in national colors, a strategy that recently allowed him to send 5,000 taka home to his family.

For these street-level retailers, the World Cup is more than a sporting event; it is a vital economic window that lasts only as long as the major teams remain in contention. Most vendors plan to remain in Dhaka for approximately one month before returning to their home districts to resume their regular agricultural or retail livelihoods, hoping the tournament’s duration will provide the financial buffer they need for the coming year.