Most of the shopping spots in the Barisal city are experiencing a huge rush of Eid shoppers of all ages, with only two or three days left for Eid-ul-Fitr.
Restriction has been put on traffic in the man commercial areas of Chawkbazar, Katpatty, Line Road, Bazar Road so that people can do their shopping with ease.
Rush of lower and middle income groups was seen more than the past year at hawkers’ markets, footpath and makeshift shops as things are affordable there.
Tailoring shops are passing the busiest time making delivery of shirt, pants and suits, dresses for women and girls.
Bata, Apex, Liberty and other shoe companies as well as local shoe manufacturing shops are also having good crowds.
Kitchen market sources said prices of vegetables, salad items, fishes were low while prices of pilau rice, vermicelli, sugar, spices, meats and other food items were at least 20-30 per cent higher than the pre-Ramadan period.
Essential things for Eid are cap, praying mats and traditional scents.
‘The number of caps, praying mats, rosary, Surma and perfume that sell during Eid accounts for more than 60 per cent of the annual demand. The sale begins in early Ramadan and continues till next Eid-ul-Azha,’ said Motahar Hossain, owner of a shop selling cap, praying mats and perfumes shop at Hemayetuddin Road Kasai Mosque, known as the largest retail market of caps in the city.
Sale of cosmetics and beautification items, specially imitation and city-gold items, was not as good as the expectation, said the sellers.
However beauty parlours and salons in the city witnessed a huge crowd apart from shopping centres and markets.
Fashion enthusiasts, particularly the young people, rushed to different parlours and salons to decorate themselves with new hair style and make-up in preparation to celebrate the festivals.
However the traditionally buoyant gold jewellery markets are experiencing an unusual lull, said Md Ali Khan Jasim, secretary Barisal Jewellers Association.
The electronics and furniture market also faced dull sale, informed Murad Hossain, agent of Brother Furniture, and Md Mokhles, sales executive of My One Electronics.
Sale of cheap mobile phone sets and Eid greeting cards was not bad as other gift items became costlier than previous year.
-With New Age input
