Anisul Islam Noor :
People are flocking to the city shopping malls everyday, particularly after evening, for buying dresses, cosmetics, shoes and sandals, and jewelry on the occasion of the Holy Eid-ul-Fitr.
Cotton long kamij, fotua, lawn three pieces, different kinds of pants are among the core choice of women this time. “But astonishingly sale of saris has fallen,” said a shopkeeper. When asked, he said, the female buyers show no interest or little interest in saris, the Bengalis’ traditional garment.
Shopping malls, including Basundhara Shopping Complex, the Jamuna Future Park, the Pink city, the Karnaphuli Garden City, the Khilgaon Taltola Shopping Centre, the Chandni Chawk, the Polwell Super Market, the Eastern Plaza, the Infinity Mega Mall, the Eastern Plus, the the Bailey Road, the Bishal Centre, the Rapa Plaza, the Mohammadpur Super Market, the Mascut Plaza, the Subastu Naza valley and the Fortune Shopping Mall, murmur with men and women, boys and girl.
Offer for Eid gifts, discounts and raffle draw attract more customers. Shoppers, especially women, crowd fashion houses like Arong, Anjans, Banglar Mela, Sadakalo, Kay Kraft, Cat’s Eye, Artisti, Richman Lubnan and Deshal, Deshi Dosh, Nagordola and Bibana. Boutique houses have brought kid’s items besides for the young and aged people. These are fixed price shops. Prices of Panjabi hover between Tk800 to 6,000, Sari Tk700 to Tk 10,000 and three piece Tk1200 to 7,000.
Young women like dress matching shoe and cosmetics. “I bought a three-piece alike Salowar kamij for my two years kid,” Alauddin said
while shopping in a boutique house, Sadakalo, Aziz Super Market.
Customers also prefer saris named after different popular characters of Hindi films, a salesman said. The men are seen crowding apparel shops such as Estacy, Freeland, Textmart, Zaara, Lere ve, and Vashavi to buy their chosen Eid dresses, especially embroidered cotton Panjabi.
“I purchased a light yellow punjabi since the Eid will be celebrated in the rainy season,” Abdur Rouf Arnob said while shopping in the Basundhara City yesterday (Thursday) adding that price is higher than it was in the past
The shoe houses such as Apex, Bata, Fortune, Bay and Lotto remain crowded at day time. Many outlet owners said that they were having good business. They are expecting more in the coming days. The fashion lovers are fond of traditional dresses but the youth are getting attracted to the western attires.
Even some brands like Yellow where people get western type dress are also selling cotton, lawn salower kamij in this Eid.
The artificial jewelry section is also creating its place in the market. “Ashiqui2 jhumka and Ram Leela jewelry are on high demand,” said a shop owner, adding that the necklace and bangles are also in big demand.
Lower income people are also shopping centering the religious festival in Gulistan, Gausia, Mohammdpur Krishi Market etc. Roadside sellers were also seen busy catering low-income customers. Sohel, a salesman of Gousia footpath market, told the reporter on Thursday that they are satisfied with the flow of customers.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police and Rapid Action Battalion have stepped up vigil in and around shopping centers and outside to ensure security for all, especially shoppers who nowadays go to the shopping centres at night, in the wake of the Eid.
