Home ›› 19 Apr 2023 ›› Nation
Despite the global crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine War following the Covid-19 pandemic, crowded Eid markets in Rangpur and Khulna are witnessing huge sales as couple of days remain ahead of the Eid-ul- Fitr festival.
In Rangpur
Leaders of different business bodies and traders said shopping has now reached the peak amid tight security measures at all markets, shopping malls, complexes and centres and makeshift roadside markets.
Despite higher prices of all Eid items this year, sales may mark a record following continuous improvement in the economic conditions of common people in the urban, sub-urban and rural areas despite the multi-dimensional global crises.
Different Eid markets have worn festive looks with rushing men, women, girls, boys, adolescents, students and youths to buy Eid items and their crisscross movements have created traffic jams in the city.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police has tightened security measures and launched special road traffic systems in the metropolis to enable rushing people to market easily without any untoward incident.
Members of police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 and intelligence personnel are being found patrolling markets, shop-ping malls and centres both in uniforms and plain clothes.
Authorities of different business establishments, shopping malls, complexes, markets and centres have also taken their own security measures to ensure a peaceful environment for Eid shoppers.
Buyers at different markets said prices of clothes and other Eid items for males, females, babies and children are higher by 40 to 50 per cent this time than the previous years.
Nevertheless, high prices of Eid items have almost no impact on buyers, said owners of different shops and salespersons at different markets.
Eid shoppers are mostly rushing to Rangpur Super Market, RMAC Shopping Complex, Adi Janata, City Plaza, Salek Market, Jamal Market, 'Shah Amanat', 'Rajanigandha', Station Market, Rajiv Gandhi Market, Honumantola Market, Jahaz Company Shopping Complex, 'Karupannya', Moti Plaza, Maya Exclusive Fashion House, Bismillah Garments, Medina Garments, Gold-en Tower, 'Rangan', 'Zila Parishad Biponi Bitan' and other markets, shopping malls and centres in the city.
Currently, each female three pieces are being sold at rates between Tk 1,500 and 20,000, saree between Tk 1,500 and 40,000, 'punjabi' between Tk 1,300 and 12,000, pant pieces between Tk 1,500 and 5,500, jeans pants between Tk 1,500 and 6,000, shirt pieces between Tk 1,200 and 5,500, shirts between Tk 1,500 and 5,000.
City residents Abdul Hamid, Mamunur Rashid and Aminul Islam who came with their wives at RAMC Shopping Complex to-day said they purchased shirts, 'punjabis' and trousers for their family members.
Student of Begum Rokeya University Nur Nahar at Rangpur Super Market said, 'I bought a three-piece for Tk 4,500. The price seems to be much higher this time than last year."
College students Mithila and Mariyam Nesa at Rangpur Super Market said they already purchased their Eid clothes, cosmet-ics and shoes at 40 to 50 per cent higher prices this year compared to last year.
Couple Rezaul Karim and Aklima Karim at Jahaz Company Shopping Complex said they purchased Eid clothes and other items for their two children today at much higher rates this year.
Traders Belal Hossain, Akkas Ali and Nurul Islam at Honumantola Market expressed satisfaction over sales of various Eid items, cosmetics and other goods and hoped that the sales would continue increasing daily till before the Eid day.
President of Rangpur Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Md. Rezaul Islam Milon said sales of Eid items are increasing everyday following a boost of incomes of common people despite the prevailing global crises.
"The business places have worn festive looks with rushing buyers of all ages," he said, and expected a better business as sales would continue to increase till before the Eid-ul-Fitr day.
In Khulna
Ignoring the intense heatwave, the buyers are crowding into the city markets in Khulna to buy new clothes, cosmetics, shoes and other items for their families in a festive mood.
All the city markets are seen very busy selling their Eid items as a rush of customers in the city's different shopping centres, which begins in the morning and continues till midnight.
Kid's dresses are on massive sale this year. After the years of the pandemic, this year, children are seen in the shopping mall in a festive mood, said Sher Ali Mollah, owner of Sathi Garments of Friends' Arcade Market, today.
"The sales of this year are better than last year. This year, on average, sales worth around Tk four lakh have been achieved at the last few days of Ramadan," he added.
Imran Hossain, manager of INFINITY Clothing Store in the city's Shibbari area, said they opened their outlet in Khulna 10 months ago, but their sales volume sounds good now.
They sell clothes for kids, men and women. Due to the Russia-Ukraine War, the price of foreign brands is higher. But their own brand Richman jeans becomes popular in Khulna and the price is comparatively cheaper than foreign brands. In the last few days of Ramadan, on average, they sell clothes worth about Tk 7 lakh a day, he added.
Comparatively, this year's sales are slightly higher than last year’s. By the end of Ramadan, the sales have increased a lot which is on an average of Tk 5.5-6 lakh every day, said Liton Howlader, owner of Bismillah Fabrics of Khulna Shopping Complex in the city.
Amolesh Mallik, owner of Adritya Bosraloy of Jalil Tower Shopping Mall told BSS that 'Soft Benaroshi Katan Sari, Indian Jamdani, South Indian Kanjivaran, Rajasthani Jaypuri Silk, Monipuri Sari of Sylhet are prime demands to the young women. Their sales are 4-5 lakh a day in the last couple of days.
