Lalmonirhat: Eid shopping in Lalmonirhat has gained momentum as the crowd of buyers at the Eid market here has increased significantly centering the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the greatest religious festival of Muslims. People have been rushing to various markets and shopping malls in the city since morning to buy new clothes and essential items.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, visiting the market, it can be seen that along with modern designed clothes for men, women, and children, cosmetics, shoes, jewelry, and home decoration items are the main focus of buyers' interest. Discounts and cashback facilities on bank cards and mobile banking have further increased interest for shopping there. Buyers' presence in hat-shops, perfumes, and prayer mat shops were seen while visiting the spot. Shoppers are also busy shopping for daily necessities including rice, pulses, sugar, chickpeas, oil, spices, and semai at grocery stores.
Sumon Hasan, a salesperson at City Garments, said the crowds in the markets have increased since the beginning of the Holy Ramadan. Talking to the BSS, Tahul Islam, a salesperson at Messrs. Narsingdi Basralay, said this year's sales are satisfactory as sufficient clothes are in stock as per the demand of the buyers. Salesmen of Kazi Fashion also said the crowd increases after Iftar and the demand for cotton and comfortable fabric shirts, T-shirts, and pants is high. Apart from this, the workload has also increased at tailor shops ahead of the Eid festival.
"The prices of clothes are slightly higher than before," buyer Abdul Halim Chand told this correspondent. Another buyer named Sweety Akhter said she is shopping in advance for her family, but in some cases, traders are charging extra prices. Meanwhile, the CNG-run auto-rickshaws have caused traffic jams in the city's market area centering the Eid, intensifying the sufferings to the buyers as well as pedestrians. However, security has been beefed up in the market area while plainclothes police are also on duty to prevent petty crimes, said Abdul Matin, officer-in-charge of Lalmonirhat (sadar) Police Station.