As the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of the Muslims, is drawing near, shopping has gained momentum with great rush in various shopping centres in the port city.
The festival is the biggest celebration for the Muslim community, and many shoppers have received their salaries at the beginning of the month, adding to the momentum of the trend.
All the city markets are seen busy selling their commodities as crowds of customers are visiting the shopping centers, which start in the morning and continue till midnight.
Most salesmen said that the sales have reached its peak compared with past years' although 15 Ramdan has passed.
Shoppers said that the prices of all products had increased by 20 to 30 per cent than the last year.
'The sales after the Ramadan 15 was around TK 85 thousand a day last year but this year the volume of sales went up to TK 90 thousand a day, said Golam Mostafa, General Secretary of Shopping Complex Shop Owner Association.
Talking to BSS, Ahmed Hossain General Secretary of Terri Bazar Bonik Samity said most of the public and private employees got their salaries so the shopping has gained momentum with great rush in port city.
The shoppers gathered in the markets of the port city on Fridays and Saturday, with crowds also appearing after iftar time on other days.
New-market, Mimi Super Market, Afmi Plaza, Finlay Squire, Sanmar Ocean City, Amin Centre, Central Plaza, Amin Centre, Reazuddin Bazar, Chackview Market, Moti Tower Market, Keari Shopping Complex Singapore Market, Laki Plaza Arong, Cats Eye, Chattogram Shopping Complex, Tari Bazar, Hawkers market, and other shopping centres located at GEC intersection, Chattogram Export Processing Zone, and Bahadarhat areas are experiencing high footfall as Eid-ul-Fitr approaches.
According to traders, these shopping centres have remained busy from 10.00 am until midnight for the past couple of days, with the trend expected to continue until the third week of April when the Eid celebration takes place.
The demand of well-designed sarees and three-piece suits for women is particularly high and is drawing in a significant number of buyers.
Customers and traders in Chattogram have reported a price increase in all types of clothing and apparel compared to last year.
According to traders at Moti tower, Mimi Super Market and Chattogram Shopping Complex, Three piece Salwar Kamij is priced between Tk 2,000 to Tk 18,000 per piece, while sarees range from Tk 1,000 to Tk one lakh and lehengas are between Tk 3,000 to TK 35,000.
Different brands of local saris like Silk, Katan, Tangail and Indian Kanjilal, are in great demand in the local markets.
Roadside footpath shops and small shops are also found more crowded than the big shopping malls.
Meanwhile, a large number of makeshift shops have sprung up on the pavements of the city on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr.
Prices of different varieties of clothes, particularly cotton tissue, silk, and synthetic, have registered a sharp rise although the shops are almost full of a variety of garments.
Supply of goods, including foreign brands, in the market is abundant. The goods vary from luxury to household items, importer Solayman said.
Varieties of Indian saris and three pieces have also flooded the shopping centers, especially in Mimi Super Market, Teribazar and Reazuddin Bazar, Amin Center, Sanmar Ocean city, Moti Tower and Bali Arcade Shopping Mall.
Traffic department sources said, port city has been witnessing heavy traffic congestion from mid Ramzan at New market, Reazuddin Bazar, Jubilee Road, Station road , Andarkilla, Chawkbazar, Sholoshahar, Nasirabad, Agradab, Dewan hat, Lalkhan Bazar and Bahaddarhat due to increasing flow of buyers on the occasion of the Eid festival.
Traffic police were also seen struggling to tackle the situations in those points.
Besides the crime busting elite force RAB, police are vigilant on the road port city to check mugging, snatching, eve teasing and other unlawful activities.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha