Before Eid, shopping has intensified in the capital’s markets. Dhaka feels intensely hot during the afternoon. Despite this scorching heat, city dwellers are busy with shopping for Eid. Police are ensuring special security measures in the markets to ensure smooth shopping.
On Friday (April 5), various markets in the capital witnessed such scenes. Visits to Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, New Market, and Mouchak Markets reveal many families and friends coming together to shop for Eid. Despite the intense heat, there’s a crowd in Dhaka’s markets.
It’s been observed that from the morning, there’s been a noticeable increase in crowds in these markets. However, after Friday prayers, the crowd has multiplied several times. And from the afternoon onwards, the pressure has increased even more. As a result, finding space to walk in the markets has been difficult. Those who came for Eid shopping have to endure the scorching heat. The elite have crowded Bashundhara City Shopping Complex and Bailey Road along with other high-end markets. On the other hand, the middle class is seeking relief in places like Mouchak and New Market where prices are lower.
Traders say that there are only four to five days left until Eid. Today was the last weekly holiday before Eid, so sales have increased several times. Especially those who will leave Dhaka during Eid are shopping now. As a result, there’s a lot of pressure on the shoppers in the markets. This trend will continue from now on until the night before Eid.
Halima Khatoon, a customer at New Market, says, “The heat is unbearable, but what can we do? We have to come to the market. Shopping is necessary for everyone, including children.”
Another customer, Abdullah, says, “I work in a private company. I have two to three more days off. Today is Friday, so I brought my wife. Prices are somewhat okay. But the heat is too much. We are compelled to come. Besides, there’s not much time left.”
Rasel Khandakar, who came to buy clothes, says, “Shopping before Eid is quite hectic. Yet, we have to come. It’s a holiday today, that’s why I came.”
In the shops of Paltan and New Market, along with the gatherings of customers, there are crowds on the footpaths adjacent to the shops as well. In comparison to the markets, the footpath shops have lower prices, so many are opting to shop there.
