Sale of second-hand warm clothes up in Barisal

Sale of warm clothes has gained momentum in Barisal as cold weather has been sweeping the region for the last few days. Especially traders of second hand warm clothes are doing brisk business at makeshift, footpath shops and different markets in the city. A cold spell coupled with dense fog is sweeping the area. The intensity of cold begins after midday and worsens in the evening, with the homeless being the worst affected. With the homeless taking refuge in the corridors of markets and railway stations to escape the cold, roads are becoming deserted after nightfall. Only a few have the comfort of a blanket. Traders are cashing in on the situation, raising the price of second-hand clothes.
The Barisal met office recorded the lowest temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius last week. It will be decreased within next 15 days, met office sources added. But no steps have been taken by any corners to distribute warm clothes among the poorest people till filing the report.
People living in the slums, char areas, makeshift houses and low and fixed income-group including day-laborers, rickshaw- pullers and employees of different government and private organisations of the region are the worst affected by chilly cold. These people are crowding footpath and makeshift shops and Hazi Muhammad Mohsin Hawkers Market and city market to buy second-hand warm clothes such as sweaters, jackets, cardigans, woolen caps and mufflers, wrapper, blanket, coat.
Demand for these used items is high and the shopkeepers are selling those at prices marked an increase by about 20-30 per cent compared to that of the last year, consumers said.
Apart from footpath shops, warm clothes are also selling at different markets at Fazlul Huq Avenue, Chawk Bazaar, Bazaar Road, Hemayet Uddin Road in the city.
‘We have been suffering extremely for severe cold for the last few days. So, I have come to the town to buy some second-hand warm clothes for my family members saving money from my daily income. Despite huge supply, used warm cloths are selling at exorbitant prices and much higher compared to the last year, said Sayla Perveen, a female construction worker living in Mohabaz area of city outskirt.
Monowar Hosen, who sells second-hand warm clothes including jeans jackets, woolen blazers and sweaters in his shop at the Mohsin Hawkers Market, claimed many well-off people were also buying the same products from the market. ‘Particularly youths are frequently visiting the market to buy different items as their quality and designs are better than new ones,’ he added.
A wrapper was selling at Tk 150 to 250, blanket at Tk 300 to 400, sweater at Tk 100 to 250, coat at Tk 200 to 350, cardigan at Tk 200 to Tk 350 and different child clothes at Tk 100 to Tk 150, the sources added.
‘We are buying used warm clothes from Dhaka at 20-25 per cent higher rate this year due to increased transport costs. A bundle of clothes (200 to 225 pieces for adult or 400 to 450 pieces for children) costs Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000, said Azim Ali who was found selling warm clothes at the hawkers market.
Another owner of Sadar Road of the city said sales at his shop has almost doubled in the past one week. The price of warm clothes have remained unchanged in posh shops compared to that of the last year and it is within the reach of the customers, he claimed.

Sale of second-hand warm clothes up in Barisal

Sale of warm clothes has gained momentum in Barisal as cold weather has been sweeping the region for the last few days. Especially traders of second hand warm clothes are doing brisk business at makeshift, footpath shops and different markets in the city. A cold spell coupled with dense fog is sweeping the area. The intensity of cold begins after midday and worsens in the evening, with the homeless being the worst affected. With the homeless taking refuge in the corridors of markets and railway stations to escape the cold, roads are becoming deserted after nightfall. Only a few have the comfort of a blanket. Traders are cashing in on the situation, raising the price of second-hand clothes. The Barisal met office recorded the lowest temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius last week. It will be decreased within next 15 days, met office sources added. But no steps have been taken by any corners to distribute warm clothes among the poorest people till filing the report. People living in the slums, char areas, makeshift houses and low and fixed income-group including day-laborers, rickshaw- pullers and employees of different government and private organisations of the region are the worst affected by chilly cold. These people are crowding footpath and makeshift shops and Hazi Muhammad Mohsin Hawkers Market and city market to buy second-hand warm clothes such as sweaters, jackets, cardigans, woolen caps and mufflers, wrapper, blanket, coat. Demand for these used items is high and the shopkeepers are selling those at prices marked an increase by about 20-30 per cent compared to that of the last year, consumers said. Apart from footpath shops, warm clothes are also selling at different markets at Fazlul Huq Avenue, Chawk Bazaar, Bazaar Road, Hemayet Uddin Road in the city. We have been suffering extremely for severe cold for the last few days. So, I have come to the town to buy some second-hand warm clothes for my family members saving money from my daily income. Despite huge supply, used warm cloths are selling at exorbitant prices and much higher compared to the last year, said Sayla Perveen, a female construction worker living in Mohabaz area of city outskirt. Monowar Hosen, who sells second-hand warm clothes including jeans jackets, woolen blazers and sweaters in his shop at the Mohsin Hawkers Market, claimed many well-off people were also buying the same products from the market. Particularly youths are frequently visiting the market to buy different items as their quality and designs are better than new ones, he added. A wrapper was selling at Tk 150 to 250, blanket at Tk 300 to 400, sweater at Tk 100 to 250, coat at Tk 200 to 350, cardigan at Tk 200 to Tk 350 and different child clothes at Tk 100 to Tk 150, the sources added. We are buying used warm clothes from Dhaka at 20-25 per cent higher rate this year due to increased transport costs. A bundle of clothes (200 to 225 pieces for adult or 400 to 450 pieces for children) costs Tk 10,000 to Tk 12,000, said Azim Ali who was found selling warm clothes at the hawkers market. Another owner of Sadar Road of the city said sales at his shop has almost doubled in the past one week. The price of warm clothes have remained unchanged in posh shops compared to that of the last year and it is within the reach of the customers, he claimed.