Eid shopping gains momentum in Rajshahi

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RAJSHAHI, May 23, 2019 (BSS)- With hardly twelve days left for the Eid-
ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals of the Muslims, Rajshahi city
has been caught by Eid shopping fever with modern and traditional shopping
malls bustling with shoppers from all strata.

Thousands of people are purchasing items of their own choice with huge
enthusiasm despite significant rise in prices of all kinds of clothes than
the last year.

With attraction of eye-catching colour and design of the silk wears,
large number of people irrespective of age and sex especially the adolescents
are humming towards the showrooms to collect their best choice.

According to the sources concerned, silk wears valued at around Taka 30-
35 crore are likely to be sold during the current Eid season.

Silk fabrics, weaved and designed by local artisans, are on huge demand
in the Eid markets of the city, with the affluent people rushing to the city
silk showrooms every day.

Movement of the shoppers has created huge traffic congestion in the major
shopping areas. Shop owners told BSS that sales were showing an upward trend
since the last couple of days.

Salesmen of different markets, footpaths, makeshift sales centers are
passing busy time from morning to midnight as shoppers of all ages gathered
there, they added.

Market sources said the overall sale was much higher this year because
of further improvement in the economic condition of people from all classes.

Deployment of law enforcers at different points and market places and
engagement of private security men at shopping malls by the authorities
concerned have ultimately created a fool-proof security arrangement for
businessmen as well as shoppers.

Rajshahi Metropolitan Traffic Police sources said movement of thousands
of battery-run auto-rickshaws has deteriorated the traffic situation here
though the situation is so far better.

The RMP traffic department also blocked all intersections in front of all
markets and shopping malls to ensure uninterrupted movement of vehicles.

“RMP has set up police boxes beside the gates of all busy markets and
our police officials are sincerely making people aware about traffic system
all the time,” said Anirban Chakma, Deputy Commissioner (Traffic) in RMP.

Sekendar Ali, general secretary of RDA Market Businessmen Association,
said he had not faced any untoward situation from the first day of Ramadan.

“The volume of sale is much higher this year.” Saidul Islam, owner of
Laboni Saree Ghar at Rajshahi New Market, said the products particularly
Salwar-Kameez for girls, shoes, sarees with embroidery and stone work,
punjabi, and shirts produced by local fashion houses were attracting the
customers.

The shopping places become jam-packed to wear festive looks daily since
noon. Market sources said prices of the clothes for male, female and children
were almost reasonable than the previous years. The Eid shoppers have been
rushing mostly to RDA Market, New Market, Sonadighi Silk Market and other
markets and shopping malls in the city.

The girls and adolescents are mostly purchasing three pieces of various
designs like “Tumili’, “Chhanchhan”, “Ranjona”, and “AnarKoli”.

The buyers from the richer class are also selecting and purchasing their
best choice whatever the price is while the middle and low-income groups are
seen bargaining with the sellers.

Traders expressed happiness over sales and hoped that the selling will
further increase.