As Eid-ul-Fitr is approaching fast, people from all walks of life are now having busy time in last moment’s shopping.
In the last few days, sellers even forget the time of meals as they have to deal with customers almost round the clock.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has undertaken security measures to ensure hassle-free shopping for the upcoming Eid-ul-fitr in the city.
Police and RAB personnel have been deployed at the key points of the city along with the markets, said CMP sources.
While visiting several markets including Akhtaruzzaman Centre, Singapur Shopping mall, Lucky Plaza in Agrabad, Ameen Centre Plaza in Lalkhan Bazar, GEC, Riaz Uddin Bazar, New Market, Teri Bazar, the correspondent found heavy crowds of Eid shoppers in those places.
It is a common scenario in each and every shopping mall that customers are bargaining with salesmen.
Shoppers, however, alleged that traders were taking higher prices from them comparatively than the last year.
Different brands of local saris like silk, katan, Tangail and Indian Kanjilal are in high demand among women customers.
Bangalore Silk Katan, Anarkoli and Lehenga, Pakhi dresses, and Kiron Mala dresses are being sold at higher prices ranging from Tk5,000 to Tk50,000, said sellers.
Asad Iftekhar, president of Sanmar Ocean City Traders’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that during the pick time of Ramadan sales would go around Tk30,000,000 on average daily while sales will increase from two or three days earlier of the Eid.
However, the torrential rainfall caused the down fall of the sales in last two days, said Asad.
Riazuddin Bazar Bonik Kolyan Somity’s President Mahbunul Alam said people of all walks of life were busy to shop for their families with reasonable prices from the traditional market.
Apart from shopping malls, a number of makeshift shops have been set up on several footpaths of the city which is causing traffic congestion in several points of the city.