Shoppers throng markets, few shop for Eid in Barisal

Although shopping malls and markets of Barisal city are recording huge footfall, sales are yet to gain momentum. One reason could be the frequent sudden showers.
The business community of Barisal is not yet happy with the sales figures. “Eid sales have made a slow start, but we hope it will catch up in the last 10 days of Ramadan,” said a salesman in Jahanara Market.
Footfall is quite good at all city market hubs and shopping malls, including Chawk Bazar, Girza Mohollah, Fazlul Haque Avenue, Sadar Road, Bazaar Road, Port Road, Parara Road, Police Lines, Hemayetuddin Road, Fazlul Huq Avenue, and Bogura Road.
“Prices are now comparatively lower than in the first half of Ramadan,” said a shopper in between selecting some of the newly designed outfits at a market.
Fashion trends shown in Indian films and soap operas seem to be most popular Eid choices among the young generation and women. A huge number of Indian goods like sarees, three-piece suits, and panjabis are available in the market. Some businessmen are collecting Indian clothes from the black market and selling those openly in these areas.
Here are a few popular styles from women’s fashion this Eid: Labanga (Tk. 24,000–65,000), floor touch (Tk. 3,000–7,000), Nari (Tk. 3,000–12,000), Ramlila (Tk. 21,000–22,500), Guzaru (Tk. 3,500–9,000), Samsam (Tk. 3,000–6,000), Zepsee (Tk. 2,000–8,000) and Pakhi (Tk. 2,000–4,000).
Among sarees, the Eid price range at big showrooms is: Indian georgette (Tk. 4,000–6,000), fine georgette (Tk. 6,500–10,000), jamdani and Tangail silk (Tk. 6,000–15,000), and cotton sarees (Tk. 1,000–5,000). Densely embroidered sarees are priced around Tk. 14,000. Indian sarees are selling between Tk. 1,500 and 6,000.
Men’s sherwanis and panjabis are priced between Tk. 3,000 and 11,000.
Boutiques are selling babies’ clothes for Tk. 1,000–1,500, boys’ panjabi-pajama sets for Tk. 1,000–1,500, girls’ salwar-kameez sets for Tk. 850–1,300, and pants-top sets for Tk. 400–750. “Till now, customers have been visiting my outlet mostly to get an idea about the prices and fashion trends,” said Rezaul Haque Babul, owner of a garments shop at Girza Moholla.
Sheikh Abdur Rahim, former president of the Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries and owner of exclusive dress material seller Moyuri, said, “We expect sales to soar in the last week of Ramadan.”
Alimuzaman Bhuiyan, a hawker who sells his garments in front of the Barisal District Council, said, “Eid shopping is yet to pick up in the city. Many people are thronging the markets, but very few of them are buying anything.”

Shoppers throng markets, few shop for Eid in Barisal

Although shopping malls and markets of Barisal city are recording huge footfall, sales are yet to gain momentum. One reason could be the frequent sudden showers. The business community of Barisal is not yet happy with the sales figures. Eid sales have made a slow start, but we hope it will catch up in the last 10 days of Ramadan, said a salesman in Jahanara Market. Footfall is quite good at all city market hubs and shopping malls, including Chawk Bazar, Girza Mohollah, Fazlul Haque Avenue, Sadar Road, Bazaar Road, Port Road, Parara Road, Police Lines, Hemayetuddin Road, Fazlul Huq Avenue, and Bogura Road. Prices are now comparatively lower than in the first half of Ramadan, said a shopper in between selecting some of the newly designed outfits at a market. Fashion trends shown in Indian films and soap operas seem to be most popular Eid choices among the young generation and women. A huge number of Indian goods like sarees, three-piece suits, and panjabis are available in the market. Some businessmen are collecting Indian clothes from the black market and selling those openly in these areas. Here are a few popular styles from womens fashion this Eid: Labanga (Tk. 24,00065,000), floor touch (Tk. 3,0007,000), Nari (Tk. 3,00012,000), Ramlila (Tk. 21,00022,500), Guzaru (Tk. 3,5009,000), Samsam (Tk. 3,0006,000), Zepsee (Tk. 2,0008,000) and Pakhi (Tk. 2,0004,000). Among sarees, the Eid price range at big showrooms is: Indian georgette (Tk. 4,0006,000), fine georgette (Tk. 6,50010,000), jamdani and Tangail silk (Tk. 6,00015,000), and cotton sarees (Tk. 1,0005,000). Densely embroidered sarees are priced around Tk. 14,000. Indian sarees are selling between Tk. 1,500 and 6,000. Mens sherwanis and panjabis are priced between Tk. 3,000 and 11,000. Boutiques are selling babies clothes for Tk. 1,0001,500, boys panjabi-pajama sets for Tk. 1,0001,500, girls salwar-kameez sets for Tk. 8501,300, and pants-top sets for Tk. 400750. Till now, customers have been visiting my outlet mostly to get an idea about the prices and fashion trends, said Rezaul Haque Babul, owner of a garments shop at Girza Moholla. Sheikh Abdur Rahim, former president of the Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industries and owner of exclusive dress material seller Moyuri, said, We expect sales to soar in the last week of Ramadan. Alimuzaman Bhuiyan, a hawker who sells his garments in front of the Barisal District Council, said, Eid shopping is yet to pick up in the city. Many people are thronging the markets, but very few of them are buying anything.