One blank sheet at a time: Printing shops sit idle in the absence of political activity

In the bustling streets of Dhaka where the sound of whirring machines and the smell of fresh ink often dominate the areas where printing shops are situated, an eerie silence now resides. 

For Sohrab Hossain, owner of Sign Express, a modest printing business at Shyamoli, October, November, and December are usually the busiest months of the year. But this year, his printers have barely been running.

"We used to print posters, banners, and leaflets for at least five to 10 events every month during this period," said Sohrab, seated in his small yet tidy office, surrounded by rolls of unused vinyl sheets and idle printers. "But this year, we didn't receive a single order."

Sohrab's predicament is shared by many small and medium-sized printing presses across Bangladesh, a country where political activity fuels significant business for the printing industry. From political rallies and protests to cultural programs and public awareness campaigns, these events often bring in orders worth Tk10,000 to Tk20,000 per event for businesses like Sign Express.

This year, however, has been different. The political climate, marked by uncertainty and unrest, has seen many events either canceled or scaled back significantly. Political parties, previously the lifeline for small printing presses, are largely quiet — likely a strategic move in response to the political volatility.

Political activity is good for business

Printing presses are not just about books and business cards; they are integral to the country's socio-political ecosystem. During election years or periods of heightened political activity, printers work around the clock, producing campaign posters, event banners, and other promotional materials.

"The months leading up to elections are usually a goldmine," explained Sohrab. "Even small events like rallies or local community meetings require professionally printed materials like posters, leaflets, banners, etc." 

But the economic challenges posed by inflation and political turbulence have created a cascading effect. With fewer events taking place, printing press owners like Sohrab are struggling to make ends meet. 

However, the presses that are focused on book printing are busy as the book fair is scheduled to be held soon. Presses in Bangla Bazar and Fakirapool are busy printing books for that event.

Jahir Iftekhar, manager at a press in Banglabazar's Patuatuli lane, said, "We have thousands of copies to finish before the fair, and we have just two months to finish it. Although this year, the orders are lower than the previous years, probably due to the political unrest. Moreover, the prices have surged — from paper to ink — so book prices will also likely increase."  

Md Raihan Faruk, owner of Raihan Printers in the capital's Nilkhet area, shared a similar story.

"Dhaka University has been a political hotspot for many years now. Besides student's academic papers and books, we used to print many political parties' leaflets, posters and banners. Chhatra league leaders needed their posters to be printed during every election or other events. So that would mean good business for us," Raihan said.     

But he is hopeful that orders will start pouring in soon. "Dhaka University will always be the hub of politics for Bangladesh. Although we are going through this now, once the election is announced, student political parties will have to come to us anyway," he further said.  

Financial struggles amid uncertainty

The lull in business has left Sohrab worried about his ability to pay his staff and keep his business afloat. "I have two workers who rely on me for their livelihoods. Without regular orders, it's becoming difficult to pay them on time," he said, his voice tinged with concern.

Other printing shops in the area echo similar concerns. Many have already started diversifying their offerings — pivoting to wedding invitations, restaurant menus, or small-scale corporate materials — but these do not bring in the same volume or profit margins as political printing. 

"If we could print books and other academic materials, I probably wouldn't have to worry much. However, the book printing business is mostly Banglabazar-based, and getting into that business is really expensive; you need a lot of investment," Sohrab said.  

This slowdown does not just affect printing presses either — it reverberates through the entire supply chain. Suppliers of paper, ink, and other materials have also reported a drop in demand. Workers who specialise in banner installation and transportation are finding fewer opportunities.

If prolonged, economists warn that this trend could further impact small businesses reliant on political activities, particularly in urban areas like Dhaka and Chattogram.

Despite the current challenges, Sohrab remains cautiously optimistic. "Politics in Bangladesh is unpredictable. All it takes is one big event, and things can change overnight," he said with a faint smile.