Dhaka New Market, known for its affordable goods, is packed with people taking advantage of the weekend to shop for Eid. In contrast, fewer customers were visiting high-end stores in malls on Friday, less than three weeks before the biggest Muslim festival Eid-ul-Fitr. — FE Photo Eid shopping in Dhaka city has started picking up ahead of the Muslims' largest religious festival.
However, traders have mixed reactions about Eid sales.
On Friday, the FE visited different shopping centres, including Bashundhara City, Eastern Plaza, Mouchak and Twin Tower, to monitor Eid sales.
It was seen that people in increased numbers thronged the spots to buy items like sari, three-piece, baby items, panjabi, shirt, pants and T-shirt.
However, a section of traders said buyers' turnout on Friday, the second weekend of Ramadan, was comparatively lower than that in previous years.
Due to higher prices of daily commodities, they claim, the buyers are forced to cut down on Eid shopping.
However, others looked optimistic about their sales, which are of the same volume as last year.
On the other hand, shoppers alleged that fashion outlets were asking for exorbitant prices for Eid attires, but sales representatives blamed higher cost of product sourcing and operations.
Meanwhile, outlets of different brands were seen pulling in huge buyers, thanks to their big collections and bargain-free shopping experience.
A buyer at Bashundhara City's Aarong outlet Khalil Ahmed said he was looking for panjabi for three of his family members.
"I'm looking for colourful and cotton panjabis considering hot weather in coming days following Eid."
Sharmin Nahar, another shopper in the same mall was buying kids' wear.
According to her, "Eid celebration largely depends on the enjoyment of kids, so new dresses play the most crucial role."
But Ms Sharmin was struggling to purchase polo shirt from a no-bargain shop for his five-year-old nephew due to a gap between her budget and the prices on offer.
"This polo shirt should cost no more than Tk 500, unfortunately it has a price tag of Tk 850," she said, showing a dress she was considering to purchase.
Sellers said they had to source the items at higher costs on the back of dollar crisis and unfavourable economic situation marked with higher inflation.
According to sources, some baby items and women's three-pieces and saris are imported from countries like Thailand, China, India and Pakistan.
A relatively lower crowd was found at Eastern Plaza in the Hatirpool area in the afternoon.
Shourav Hossain, branch manager of a large fashion outlet called Shruti Mega Mart, said their sales remained much lower than usual Eid sales.
"I think higher living cost is the key reason for people being stingy with Eid Shopping," he told the FE.
Besides, most of the salaried professionals were yet to get their festival bonus that Mr Hossain cited as another reason for such lower sales for many.
"Usually, Eid sales go on in full swing in the second half of Ramadan with people getting their bonus."
Schools are still open which leave little scope for the families to visit shopping malls, added the manager.
AK Azad, owner of New Colour Play at Mouchak Market, said people think of buying luxury goods after fulfilling their daily necessities.
As they are now under a huge inflationary pressure, customers who used to purchase five items a year are now buying only three.
"Therefore, it seems that our sales will slow down a bit this time. Again, the prices of clothes have also increased a lot. The price of a local cotton sari has increased by about Tk 200."
Some Indian and Pakistani salwar-kameez suits increased by an estimated Tk 1,000 each, he added.
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