With only a week befpre Eid-ul-Fitr, people from all walks of life in Chittagong have started crowding shopping malls, arcades and markets as well as makeshift shops on footpaths in the port city’s to find their desired clothing.
From the city’s top-notch shopping malls to street hawkers, a huge flow of people were seen from morning till midnight in the last ten days of Ramadan.
Most city markets took a festive look with shops displaying new collections and latest fashion trends in clothing. However, many customers complained of high prices while sellers attributed this to the high quality or cost prices.
Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, most shop owners said a hike in production and import costs of dresses had pushed the selling prices higher while buyers alleged that the sellers were trying to make some quick profit ahead of the religious festival.
Well-off residents of the city were seen gathering at upscale shopping malls like New Market (Bipani Bitan), Amin Centre, Sanmar Ocean City, Central Plaza, Mimi Super Market, Chittagong Shopping Complex, UNESCO Tower, Bay shopping Centre, Akhteruzzaman Centre and Afmi Plaza.
Middle-class shoppers were seen visiting shops at Reazuddin Bazar, Lucky Plaza, Chawk View Market, Terri Bazar, Tamakumandi Lane Bazar, Shipping Complex, Singapore-Bangkok Market and other markets for finding their desired items at a reasonable price.
Kamrul Islam, a salesman of Nabarupa at UNESCO Tower, said highly-decorated pure chiffon silk, Jamdani, Katan and other sarees between Tk 2,500 and Tk 40,000 were in high demand this year.
Nasima Akhter, a housewife, finally came to Reazuddin Bazar to find her desired designed saree at a reasonable price after visiting Sanmar, Amin Centre and New Market .
“At last, I managed to buy a Katan saree at Tk 2,000 after bargaining with the salesmen of a shop at Reazuddin Bazar,” she said.
Salwar-kameez decorated with different artistic patterns, with brand names like Pakhi, Panela, Punkowri, Aksara and others, have become popular among the young generation this year with prices starting from Tk 4,000 to Tk 15,000 at different shops across the city.
Young boys were seen gathering at popular outlets like Khadighar, Paristhan, Sristi, Nongor, Aarong, Anjans, Shoilpik, Nakkhotro and others that showcased attractive and colourful Punjabis.
Apart from traditional markets, several upscale outlets such as Handicraft, Handibazar, Westin, Westwood, Revlon, Cat’s Eye, Menz Klub, Ruby Red and Khakki also unvield their latest collection of shirts and pants for gents.
Dedar Alam, a shopper who came to Central Plaza mall in the port city with his wife, complained that he was unable to buy anything from the market as most items exceeded his budget.
Besides, the authorities have allowed about 35,000 hawkers to do business on the footpath again at different city points offering a scope for thousands of lower middle class and low income families to shop for Eid.
Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Banaz Kumar Majumder of Chittagong Metropolitan Police said additional members of law enforcing agencies had been deployed at all markets, shopping malls and shopping areas of the port city to evade any kind of hassle for Eid shoppers.
“Our female police forces were also deployed in the markets to help women with sexual harassment or stalking,” he added.