With just two weeks remaining before Eid-ul-Fitr, shopping activity has surged, drawing people of all ages, particularly women and children, to malls and shops on Tuesday, a public holiday commemorating Independence Day and National Day.

Crowds flocked to Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Pink City, Eastern Plaza, Jamuna Future Park, and various shops at Elephant Road, Mouchak Market, New Market, Chandni Chawk, Gausia, and other malls and markets across the capital since morning on the day.

Shop owners reported brisk sales of dresses and footwear, especially at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall after the completion of iftar, as the number of shoppers began to rise.
Tarek Hasan, an NGO official from Bhairab in Kishoreganj, shared that he, along with his wife and children, travelled all the way from his hometown to buy new clothes for his family from the renowned shopping mall.

“There are many shops in Bhairab and Kishoreganj, but my wife and children prefer to buy their clothes and other items from Bashundhara City for the availability of all kinds of quality goods. I also found it to be a good way to utilise the Independence Day holiday,” he said.

Most shops in New Market, Chandni Chawk, Gausia, Chandrima Super Market, Globe Shopping Mall, and Nurjahan Market were continuously bustling with customers and catering to their demands.

Shoppers were observed moving from one shop to another in search of their Eid dresses. Shops specialising in children’s clothing and electrical goods were also experiencing strong sales. Despite many shops and brands offering discounts, some shoppers voiced concerns about inflated prices.

“People from lower-middle-income groups like me cannot afford branded clothes or footwear. Therefore, I have come here to buy locally made products, but it seems that the price of most products is beyond my reach,” said Rebeka Sultana, a housewife from Mirpur.

Many shopkeepers at New Market and adjacent shops expressed frustration, noting that sales were not meeting expectations.

Aminul Islam, the owner of Rafin Fashion at New Market, remarked, “I had hoped for a good sale today, being a holiday, but unfortunately, things have not met our expectations.”
He expressed optimism that sales would increase closer to the date of people’s Eid journeys and with the distribution of Eid bonuses.