As Eid-ul-Fitr is knocking on the doors, many poor and low-income people look to be on shopping sprees like the well-off classes, as everyone gets ready to celebrate the biggest religious festival with their near and dear ones.
Shoppers on low-budget are swarming the makeshift shops on footpaths and open spaces for buying dresses of their choices and other desired items, including shoes, sandals, cosmetics and jewelry, at cheaper prices.
Hundreds of temporary shops have been set up on the footpaths and open spaces in the most busy areas of the city, targeting mainly the low-income group of eid shoppers.
According to vendors, many middle-class buyers are also flocking to their stalls as they have outfits of various colours and designs and all other products like that of the posh shopping malls at reasonable prices.
The footpath sellers also said they are drawing good customers as people have got a chance for shopping in full swing after a break of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Visiting different parts of the city on Thursday and Friday, it was seen that people were crowding around the makeshift shops in Gulistan, Bangabazar, Mothijheel, Baitul Mukarram , Paltan, New Market, Jatrabari, Fakirerpool, Mouchak, Rampura, Badda and Mirpur areas.
The vendors were seen trying to woo customers by displaying various items of girls’ attires, children’s clothes, cosmetics, men’s, wears like jeans and gabardine pants, shirts, T-shirts, panjabis, trousers, footwear, belts, caps, lungis, wallets and toys.
The footpath sellers also said they are drawing good customers as people have got a chance for shopping in full swing after a break of two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Visiting different parts of the city on Thursday and Friday, it was seen that people were crowding around the makeshift shops in Gulistan, Bangabazar, Mothijheel, Baitul Mukarram , Paltan, New Market, Jatrabari, Fakirerpool, Mouchak, Rampura, Badda and Mirpur areas.
The vendors were seen trying to woo customers by displaying various items of girls’ attires, children’s clothes, cosmetics, men’s, wears like jeans and gabardine pants, shirts, T-shirts, panjabis, trousers, footwear, belts, caps, lungis, wallets and toys.
The huge turnout of shoppers brought smiles to the owners and sellers of the makeshift shops in the city.
A vendor in the city’s Motijhlee area said he is happy over the sale and profit in his makeshift shop this year. “I’m doing good business as sales volumes and profits this year are higher than the previous years. The sale was not good at the beginning of Ramadan. But it continues to increase after 15th Ramadan.”
Another vendor, Selim in New Market area, said sales are going well. “We even have no time to talk. People are now doing last-minute shopping. It will continue till the Eid day morning.”
Abul Kalam, a vendor who sells different types of pants and shirts on footpaths in Mirpur-10 area, said he made a good profit this time with huge sales of his products.
Most vendors, however, alleged that they have to pay the toll to local political leaders and law enforcers to continue running their businesses on the footpaths.
Source: United News of Bangladesh