Shopping malls abuzz with Eid shoppers

With only half a month left for Eid-ul-Fitr, the largest religious festival of Muslims, shoppers have started crowding the city’s shopping malls.
The retailers have already raised the prices of Eid items as they are expecting bigger crowds to fill their shops every day before the festival, according to a news agency.
 “Usually, people start their shopping by mid-Ramadan and the first half goes with low selling. This year, Ramadan started in the beginning of a (Gregorian) month. That’s why the rush has been more than what we expected,” says Mustafa Malek, a shop owner at New Market.
Another trader, Nazrul Islam, at Gausia Market says, “After a long time, shoppers are coming to the market from the first day of Ramadan. Although selling is not at its best yet, the business will be good this year.”
Moin Quader, a banker, was looking tired but jubilant as he was looking around the Bashundhara City Shopping Complex on Monday, carrying a handful of shopping bags.I have decided to complete my shopping early to avoid the rush as there will be a huge crowd a week before the Eid,” he said.
Shoppers were seen everywhere from footpath to upper-class malls and brand shops – some came with their families, some with friends. Many of them were seen comparing prices roaming around from one mall to another, rather than buying the Eid outfits.
All the staff in the shops were busy displaying their exclusive Eid collections to customers as most of the customers seeking the latest trend and fashion.
Long-cut salwar kamiz was found out to be the newest addition to women’s fashion, said Famida Mansur, a university student, while shopping at Bashundhara City. She bought a long-cut kamiz at Tk 4,200.
Women and girls were mostly buying Indian stitched or unstitched three-pieces with the price ranging from Tk 2,500 to Tk 8,000.
Men and boys were interested in various T-shirts priced Tk 250-1,200. Punjabis were also available at Tk 800-4,000. They were mostly searching T-shirts, Panjabis and shirts of latest design at brand shops in the big shopping malls like Bashundhara City, recently opened Jamuna Future Park, Karnaphuli Garden City, Twin Tower Concord Shopping Complex, Mouchak Market, and Fortune Shopping Mall etc.
Explaining this year’s women’s fashion trend, Selim Haque, a shop owner at Chandni Chowk market, said, long-fringe and lace-fringe sharees are selling well this year.
Sarees with chumki- and stone-works were also on good sale while the demand for different silk and Jamdani had not shrunk.
Iftekhar Ahmed Seam, a college student at Nurjahan Market in New Market area, said, “Budget is limited. So, trying to compare the prices of jeans and shirts in different shops; and will buy the best dress suited to my budget.”
Jamuna Future Park, the largest shopping mall in South Asia, was found out to be getting busy as people were gong there to enjoy the latest mall experience, or to buy the best products of the country’s top brands.
Low-income people have nowhere to go but footpath markets spreading across the city, particularly in Gulistan, Bangabazar, Dhaka College, Mirpur 10. All the traders on footpaths are ready with their various products as low-income citizens will start their shopping on the last week before the Eid.