CHATTOGRAM, June 04: With Eid-ul Fitr drawing nearer, city malls and makeshift shops on footpaths have started witnessing rush of shoppers of all ages.
Their shopping lists include trendy clothes, gift items and other household items.
Braving the hot and humid weather, shoppers are thronging everywhere -- from renowned shopping malls and outlets of brand clothing to the Jahur Hawkers Market and street vendors.
As the shopping has gained momentum, shops remain open until late night, said the salespersons who also remain busy all the time in this festive season.
Cotton, 'pure silk', 'mixed silk' and muslin sarees and three-pieces have high demand among teenage girls and married women, traders said.
Teenage girls are also choosing gowns and frocks while boys look for T-shirt, Polo T-shirt, casual T-shirt, casual shirt, fatua and panjabi-kurta with unique designs.
A heavy rush of buyers, especially youths, was seen at Shailpik, an outlet of exclusive panjabis, in the New Market on Sunday.
When asked, a salesman said his shop sells fashionable panjabis which are a highly sought-after dress.
The collection of the item would be exhausted by the end of Ramadan. So, the buyers are hurrying to get the panjabis, he said.
This year, the collections of panjabi and kurta are greater than in the previous years, but the prices are not too high, compared to the prices in the last year, the salesman said.
Sharmin, a student of Chittagong University, who came to the New Market, said she likes to buy muslin clothing having artistic works.
So, she was looking for the one of her choice, she said.
Hundreds of shoppers were seen making their choice of clothing in Terri Bazar, the city's largest wholesale and retail garment market.
The sales have picked up in all the city markets, said the manager of Sana Fashion.
He also expects a very good earning this year.
Middle- and low-income people mostly buy their clothing from Jahur Hawkers' Market where they can get apparels at a low price.
The market, well-known for second-hand items, remains packed and noisy throughout the year.
But people will find almost no collection of used clothing this season.
Still, the tiny shops in the market offering new dresses for all ages and sexes are drawing a massive crowd this month.
The shops lack facilities like air-conditioning and seating spaces, but the prices are very attractive for which the buyers flock to the market, said Md Yusuf, a shop owner.
The market located at the centre of the city's Laldighi area is close to densely-populated city areas.
Md Nuruddin, an employee of a private firm and resident of Bakolia in the city, said there is a wide array of panjabi collections in the Jahur Hawkers' Market this year.
He bought an embroidered panjabi at Tk 700, which is sold at Tk 1100 in the super shops, he said.
Apart from dresses and other household items, there is also a good collection of bed sheets, window screens and brand clothing in the market.
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