Shipra Goshwami, president of the district chapter of Conscious Citizens’ Committee, said if it is named as the branding fair, the district administration should have emphasised on exhibition and sales of jute products as jute is the district’s brand.
Aslam Mollah, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) and convener of the fair organising committee, admitted that the branding fair should be of jute products. “But we’ve kept a blend of handloom, handicraft and cottage industries as any fair can’t be arranged with only jute.”
About the 22 cosmetics stalls, he said they permitted those as people use cosmetic items in a large scale in the winter.
The ADC said there are 12 running jute mills in the district and all of them were invited to join the fair. “Only three of them are taking part in the fair but they aren’t selling any product.”