Shopping bonanza keeps hawkers happy in Ctg

With the approach of Eid-ul-fitr, shopkeepers and roadside hawkers in Chittagong are enjoying a peak in business.
The shopping frenzy ahead of the festivities has particularly cheered hundreds of hawkers, who have set up temporary stalls on pavements flanking the main shopping centres in the city such as New Market, Central Plaza, City Corporation Market, Poura Jahur Hawkers’ Market, Chawkbazar,‘Terribazar, Chittagong Shopping Complex, Akteruzzaman Centre and Amin Centre.
These temporary shops are particularly attracting low to middle-income group shoppers, who are now crowding the markets for buying clothes and other commodities for their near and dear ones.
On their part, the makeshift shops are luring customers with dazzling display of various types of low-priced Eid items such as sari, salwar kamiz, panjabi, shirt, t-shirt, jeans, baby items, shoes, cosmetics, jewelleries, etc.
The roadside shopkeepers told The Independent that business has been very good this year. They are expecting their sales to double after Ramadan as their core customers like garments workers and other low-income service holders will get their salaries.
Babul Mia, an imitation ornaments seller plying his business on a pavement at Chawkbazar, said his sale has increased thrice ahead of Eid. “Generally, my daily sales amount to around Tk. 5,000. But at present, I am selling products worth Tk. 15,000 to Tk. 18,000 a day”, he said, adding that the sale of jewellery items would increase after Ramadan.
Moinul Haque, a seller of low-price shoes in front of Akteruzzaman Centre, said he was getting a significant number of customers, accounting for sales worth Tk. 20,000 to Tk. 25,000 per day. He sells shoes at Tk. 150 a pair.
Iftekharul Islam, owner of a mini outlet for children’s items at Chittagong Shopping Centre, said, “Generally, people from the lower-income group buy products from pavement stalls ahead of Eid. Besides, people from middle and upper-middle classes also shop here for gifts and items for housework.”
Abdur Rahman, a seller of clothes for women and babies in front of New Market, said business was going on very well. “Now, I am earning around Tk. 30,000 to Tk. 35,000 from sales per day. At other times, it is Tk. 6,000 to Tk. 8,000. The dresses named Sheela and Dabang are the most popular items in my shop. The customers just have to spend Tk. 300 to Tk. 700 for purchasing each of those colourful and gorgeous dresses,” he added.
Shoppers, however, complained that prices of all products have increased in comparison to previous years. “Footpath is the only shopping place for people like us, as we don’t have adequate money for shopping in luxurious shopping centres,” said Rahim Mia, a rickshaw-puller, who came to roadside shops near Amin Centre.
“But even buying necessary commodities from these footpath shops seems a burden because the prices of all products have increased recently,” he added.
Mukta Akter Akhtar, a garments worker from Madarbari area, complained, “The shops are charging high prices.
I am forced to spend more than my shopping budget."

Shopping bonanza keeps hawkers happy in Ctg

With the approach of Eid-ul-fitr, shopkeepers and roadside hawkers in Chittagong are enjoying a peak in business. The shopping frenzy ahead of the festivities has particularly cheered hundreds of hawkers, who have set up temporary stalls on pavements flanking the main shopping centres in the city such as New Market, Central Plaza, City Corporation Market, Poura Jahur Hawkers Market, Chawkbazar,Terribazar, Chittagong Shopping Complex, Akteruzzaman Centre and Amin Centre. These temporary shops are particularly attracting low to middle-income group shoppers, who are now crowding the markets for buying clothes and other commodities for their near and dear ones. On their part, the makeshift shops are luring customers with dazzling display of various types of low-priced Eid items such as sari, salwar kamiz, panjabi, shirt, t-shirt, jeans, baby items, shoes, cosmetics, jewelleries, etc. The roadside shopkeepers told The Independent that business has been very good this year. They are expecting their sales to double after Ramadan as their core customers like garments workers and other low-income service holders will get their salaries. Babul Mia, an imitation ornaments seller plying his business on a pavement at Chawkbazar, said his sale has increased thrice ahead of Eid. Generally, my daily sales amount to around Tk. 5,000. But at present, I am selling products worth Tk. 15,000 to Tk. 18,000 a day, he said, adding that the sale of jewellery items would increase after Ramadan. Moinul Haque, a seller of low-price shoes in front of Akteruzzaman Centre, said he was getting a significant number of customers, accounting for sales worth Tk. 20,000 to Tk. 25,000 per day. He sells shoes at Tk. 150 a pair. Iftekharul Islam, owner of a mini outlet for childrens items at Chittagong Shopping Centre, said, Generally, people from the lower-income group buy products from pavement stalls ahead of Eid. Besides, people from middle and upper-middle classes also shop here for gifts and items for housework. Abdur Rahman, a seller of clothes for women and babies in front of New Market, said business was going on very well. Now, I am earning around Tk. 30,000 to Tk. 35,000 from sales per day. At other times, it is Tk. 6,000 to Tk. 8,000. The dresses named Sheela and Dabang are the most popular items in my shop. The customers just have to spend Tk. 300 to Tk. 700 for purchasing each of those colourful and gorgeous dresses, he added. Shoppers, however, complained that prices of all products have increased in comparison to previous years. Footpath is the only shopping place for people like us, as we dont have adequate money for shopping in luxurious shopping centres, said Rahim Mia, a rickshaw-puller, who came to roadside shops near Amin Centre. But even buying necessary commodities from these footpath shops seems a burden because the prices of all products have increased recently, he added. Mukta Akter Akhtar, a garments worker from Madarbari area, complained, The shops are charging high prices. I am forced to spend more than my shopping budget.