CHATTOGRAM, May 09: Eid shopping gained momentum in the port city on Sunday as people rushed to different markets and shopping centers to buy dresses, cosmetics, ornaments and different other items of their choice.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslim, will be observed in Bangladesh on May 14 subject to the appearance of the new moon.
Visiting different city markets, this correspondent found that people of different ages were converging on malls and shopping centres either to purchase new cothes, cosmetics, utensils and other commodities, or throw a glance at those items displayed at showcases or hanged in front of shops.
However, it was noticed with concern that some customers did not put on face masks, let alone wearing hand gloves and other protective equipment.
At some shops, especially in temporarily set-up markets and footpath shops, buyers were seen looking at clothes closely standing one to another defying lockdown rules.
Despite the risk of contracting coronavirus, buyers as well as salesmen were talking with each other so closely it seems that they were totally oblivious of contagion fears and health guidelines.
With only 3-4 days left before the Eid, shoppers from all strata of the society also visited some posh markets, and purchased various items after examining the same.
New Market, Mimi Super Market, Afmi Plaza, Finlay Square, Sanmar Ocean City, Amin Centre, Central Plaza, Reajuddin Bazar, Chackview Market, Moti Tower Market, Keari Shopping Complex, Singapore Market, Lucky Plaza, Aarong, Cats Eye, Chittagong Shopping Complex, Teri Bazar, Jahur hawkers market, GEC intersection, Chittagong Export Processing Zone and other shopping places were abuzz with crowds.
The shopping centers remained open from 10:00am to 10:00pm in the last few days.
Authorities decorated markets and fashion houses colourfully and illumined those at night to attract customers.
A large number of makeshift shops have been set up in the city which remained crowded with customers on Sunday.
Majority of the customers rushed to sari, punjabi, three-piece and children's wear shops. Costs of clothes have gone up this year.
Both customers and traders said prices of all types of garment and cloth are higher this year than last year.
Women were predominant among the crowds.
Like other years, Central Plaza, Mimi Super Market, Ocean City, New Market, Lucky Plaza and Teri Bazar are the first choice of women customers this year. They mostly come from the middle-class.
The price of a set of salwar and kameez ranges from Tk 2,000 to Tk 20,000 per price while that of a sari is between Tk 2,000 and Tk 0.1 million (one lakh).
Three-piece also ranged from Tk 2000 and 20,000 while lehenga between Tk 3000 and Tk 25,000.
Kobita Chowdhury, a resident of Jamal Khan, purchased a two-piece from Mimi Super Market for Tk 20,000 yesterday. She told the FE that the price of all kinds of women's clothes was too high this year than the previous one.
Admitting high price, Mohammed Rubel, a trader of the market said that the making cost of women's dresses went up by 10 per cent than that a year earlier which was the reason for the price hike.
Punjabi was available at different shopping malls including Arong, Khwaja, I fashion, Boro Shaheb, Khaki and Paristan. One piece punjabi was priced at Tk 2,000-15000.
Sources said there are 200 large, medium and small shopping centres in the city this year.
nazim07@yahoo.com