Footpath vendors at some points doing brisk business
Friday, 5 October 2007
Jasim Uddin Haroon
The average sale of hawkers selling goods in the city's footpaths has considerably declined compared to last year's Eid market.
But footpath vendors at some city points are doing brisk business, said hawkers.
The points where brisk businesses were noticed include frontal part of Gausia Market, Mirpur Road and Mouchak Market.
Owners of makeshift outlets at different city pavements said that their sale dropped by 50 per cent compared to that of the previous year.
Mohammed Kabir, a hawker in front of Baitul Mukarram told the FE he sold goods worth around Tk 1500 on Wednesday.
"Earlier, I could sell at least Tk 3000 worth of goods a day during this period before Eid," Kabir told the FE who has been hawking goods over the past 12 years.
Kabir, who hailed from Ramgati in Laxmipur expected brisk sale shortly before Eid festival.
Vendors said although they are selling their commodities at cheaper prices this year but they are not getting good responses from the buyers.
"I think poor economic condition is the main reason for dull selling and eviction of vendors from the footpath by the government is another reason," said Ramjan, an elderly vendor at Gausia market area.
Currently, holiday markets are not in operation due to the Eid period.
The government has withdrawn restrictions on setting up makeshift stalls to ease Eid shopping for the poorer section of the society.
Vendors said they have been offering lower prices this time as there is no extortion of tolls by the local 'musclemen' and law enforcing agencies.
"We, earlier, used to give around Tk 300 each day to local musclemen, law enforcing agencies and to employees of the city corporation," said Kabir, a vendor at Baitul Mukarram area.
"We are selling different cloths like shirt, T-shirt between Tk 100 and 200. prices of Punjabis also available between Tk 100 and 200" said a vendor in front of Gausia Market.
There is3 no official statistics of turnover by the footpath vendors a day during the Eid.
But different hawkers 'associations' are claiming that the total turnover would be more than Tk 30 million a day during Eid as around 0.30 million hawkers are involved in the profession.
All kinds of cloths, under wears, optical items, footwear and other necessary items are found in the makeshift markets.
Vendors said local garments factories and rural small industries are the sources of supply of those items.
Moahmmed Ledu, President of Bangladesh Sommilita Footpath Hawkers Parishad told the FE that the sale volume is low but they the hawkers are happy over the government decision to allow them to set up stalls at the footpaths.
"This time there is no extortion of tolls by 'mastans' and we are hoping the sale will gain momentum within the next two or three days," Ledu added.
The average sale of hawkers selling goods in the city's footpaths has considerably declined compared to last year's Eid market.
But footpath vendors at some city points are doing brisk business, said hawkers.
The points where brisk businesses were noticed include frontal part of Gausia Market, Mirpur Road and Mouchak Market.
Owners of makeshift outlets at different city pavements said that their sale dropped by 50 per cent compared to that of the previous year.
Mohammed Kabir, a hawker in front of Baitul Mukarram told the FE he sold goods worth around Tk 1500 on Wednesday.
"Earlier, I could sell at least Tk 3000 worth of goods a day during this period before Eid," Kabir told the FE who has been hawking goods over the past 12 years.
Kabir, who hailed from Ramgati in Laxmipur expected brisk sale shortly before Eid festival.
Vendors said although they are selling their commodities at cheaper prices this year but they are not getting good responses from the buyers.
"I think poor economic condition is the main reason for dull selling and eviction of vendors from the footpath by the government is another reason," said Ramjan, an elderly vendor at Gausia market area.
Currently, holiday markets are not in operation due to the Eid period.
The government has withdrawn restrictions on setting up makeshift stalls to ease Eid shopping for the poorer section of the society.
Vendors said they have been offering lower prices this time as there is no extortion of tolls by the local 'musclemen' and law enforcing agencies.
"We, earlier, used to give around Tk 300 each day to local musclemen, law enforcing agencies and to employees of the city corporation," said Kabir, a vendor at Baitul Mukarram area.
"We are selling different cloths like shirt, T-shirt between Tk 100 and 200. prices of Punjabis also available between Tk 100 and 200" said a vendor in front of Gausia Market.
There is3 no official statistics of turnover by the footpath vendors a day during the Eid.
But different hawkers 'associations' are claiming that the total turnover would be more than Tk 30 million a day during Eid as around 0.30 million hawkers are involved in the profession.
All kinds of cloths, under wears, optical items, footwear and other necessary items are found in the makeshift markets.
Vendors said local garments factories and rural small industries are the sources of supply of those items.
Moahmmed Ledu, President of Bangladesh Sommilita Footpath Hawkers Parishad told the FE that the sale volume is low but they the hawkers are happy over the government decision to allow them to set up stalls at the footpaths.
"This time there is no extortion of tolls by 'mastans' and we are hoping the sale will gain momentum within the next two or three days," Ledu added.