RAJSHAHI, Nov 05: As the winter is approaching in Rajshahi at a slow pace, hundreds of low income-group of people are seen to throng at the footpaths' warm clothes make-shift markets of various places of the city.
It is learnt, the shivering cold of winter season has not yet gripped the people of Rajshahi. Many people think the winter is being delayed this year.
Though it is the first week of November, many people of the district were using electric fans to get rid of warm weather at day time. However, the nights are cold and people need to wrap themselves with wrapper or sheets of clothes during sleeping at night.
Such condition of weather seems unnatural to the people of the district though the meteorological office sources in Rajshahi termed such situation of weather during this time of season are nothing unnatural.
Meanwhile, to save from the grip of approaching cold, thousands of low and the fixed income-group people including day-labourers, rickshaw-pullers and workers of different government and private organisations of northern region are thronging at the footpath-cloth stores to buy warm clothes.
But, even at the footpath markets of the city, the price of warm clothes was a bit higher this year in compared to previous years, said Rafiqul Islam, an owner of old-cloth shop at the level-crossing footpath market in the city.
He said various kinds of old, warm clothes, both woolen and cotton, have started to arrive in the markets. The price seems a bit higher during the starting of the winter season but he expressed the hope that the price would come down with increased supply of those soon.
The poor people are seen to flock to the footpath and the makeshift shops at Ganakpara square, Shahebbazar, New market, Laxmipur Squre, Station Roadside, Zero Point, Sonadighi Square to buy second-hand warm clothes including sweaters, jackets, cardigans, caps and mufflers, wrapper, blanket and coat.
High demand for these garments has increased the price by 50 per cent over the last few years. Hasna Banu (50), a house wife in Shitlai area under Tanore upazila was seen to visit the railway road side market near rail gate on Monday noon. She informed, she works at a worker at the tomato field in her area.
"I have to start in the morning for and have to work till late afternoon. It is cold during the morning and at night that is why I came Rajshahi to purchase a woolen sweater and a shalwar to wear during cool weather." She further said she would like to purchase some warm clothes for her daughter. But, she complained prices of warm clothes are higher this year. A woolen sweater was not available below Tk 250 and the price of a piece of shawl is not less than Tk 200.
Abdul Hannan (30), a college teacher of Rajshahi was seen to visit Ganakpara warm cloth markets.
He said there are many second-hand warm clothes in sell in the markets which looks amazingly new. No one will have the idea that those clothes were purchased from second hand, old-cloth markets.
[email protected]
