Traders witness record Eid sales despite higher prices

RANGPUR, June 02 (BSS): Traders are witnessing record sales as hundreds of people thronging Eid markets in the city at the last moment ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity.
Leaders of different trade bodies said Eid shopping has reached its highest peak amid tight security measures at all markets, shopping malls, complexes, centres and makeshifts ones.
Businesspersons said selling of Eid items has marked an all-time record despite higher prices this year following continuous improvement in economic conditions of common people.
Currently, markets have worn festive looks with onrush of men, women, girls, boys, adolescents, students and youths for buying Eid items and their movements have created traffic jam in the city.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police has tightened security measures and launched special road traffic systems to enable shoppers to buy their desired products safely in the city.
Members of law enforcement agencies, including police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 and intelligence personnel are being found patrolling markets, shopping malls and centres both in uniforms and plain clothes.
At this last moment, each female three pieces is being sold at Tk 1,500 to Tk 20,000, saree between Tk 1,200 and Tk 45,000, 'panjabi' between Tk 1,200 and 10,000, pant pieces at Tk 1,200 to Tk 3,500, shirt pieces between Tk 1,000 and Tk 3,500, shirts between Tk 1,500 and Tk 5,000.
Students Kohinoor Begum, Monalisa, Nargis and Azizur Rahman at 'Super Market' said they already completed purchasing their Eid clothes and other items at higher prices this year compared to last year.
Couple Monika Rahman and Hamidur Rahman at Rangan shopping centre said they purchased Eid clothes, cosmetics and all other Eid items for their children at 30 per cent to 40 per cent higher prices this time than last year.
Talking to the news agency, traders Amirul Haque, Akkas Ali and Abu Raihan at different markets expressed satisfaction over sharp rise in sales of Eid clothes, shoes, cosmetics and other goods in last two days ahead of the festivity.
The daily average sales were around Tk 30 million in first ten days of the month of Ramadan.
However, daily sales remained between Tk 50 million to 80 million in the next ten days while traders are currently selling Eid items worth over Tk 150 million daily," Liton said predicting a record Eid business this year in the city.
President of Rangpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu termed continuous improvement in economic conditions of people in last ten years as the main reason behind the record sales at Eid markets.
"The sales of Eid items would continue to increase till the night before Eid-ul-Fitr", Titu said predicting a record business at Eid markets in the city this time.
Another report from Rajshahi adds: As the Eid is knocking at the door, shopping in all the malls and markets and its adjacent areas here has reached its peak amidst a huge rush of shoppers in last moment of the shopping spree.
Silk fabrics, weaved and designed by local artisans, are on huge demand in the Eid markets, with the affluent people rushing to the city silk showrooms every day.
Thousands of people are purchasing items of their own choice with huge enthusiasm despite significant rise in prices of all kinds of clothes than the last year.
Besides low income people are crowding various footpath shops and small shops as prices here are a little bit lower than the big shopping malls.
Eid shoppers flocked to shopping mall and other business hubs like Shaheb Bazar, RDA Market, New Market, Haragram Bazar, BSCIC Silk Showrooms, Sonadighi Silk Market and Gonokpara Shopping Centre of the divisional city.
The movement of the shoppers has created huge traffic congestion in the major shopping areas. Sekendar Ali, General Secretary of RDA Market Businessmen Association, said sales were showing an upward trend since the last couple of days.
Market sources said prices of the clothes for male, female and children were almost reasonable than the previous years.
Saidur Rahman, showroom in-charge of Sapura Silk, said katoar design saree on muslin is their greatest attraction for this Eid. Different designs of sarees are priced from Tk 3,800 to Tk 1,45,000.
He said Usha Silk has also brought new designed panjabi with stripe art on silk which is being sold at Tk 2,000 to Tk 7,500 per piece.