Malls yet to draw Eid shoppers

Eid shopping in the capital is yet to gain momentum for lack of buyers although the shopping malls are ready with diverse arrays of products.

City dwellers said they were skipping the shopping malls for the higher prices of various products as the prices have gone up this year compared to the last year.

Besides, many said that they were also facing a budget deficit for the Eid shopping after meeting their living costs and children's educational expenses.

However, traders claimed that the prices of the items have not increased much against the production costs.

Visiting different markets in the capital, the news agency found that the prices of products for women and children, including dresses and handbags, went up while that of men remained the same.

Thin crowds of shoppers were seen at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, Elephant Road, Bailey Road, Polwel Super Market, Twin Tower Concord Shopping Complex, Hosaf Tower Shopping Complex, Mouchak Market and Fortune Shopping Complex on Friday, a weekly holiday, when generally markets see huge crowds.

Shopkeepers at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex said although visitors are thronging the market, few are buying products.

Salespersons at Polwel Super Market said though they sold products to wholesalers from Shab-e-Barat till the beginning of Ramadan, they were hardly finding any retail buyers.

Mohiuddin Ahmed, a shop-owner at Bailey Fiesta Shopping Mall, said every shop has a collection of best design and quality products, "However, buyers are only roaming the markets. We hope the sales will see a boost from this week.”

Meanwhile, the shop owners in Malibagh and Mouchak areas alleged that customers are not visiting their markets due to the dilapidated condition of the roads around the markets caused by the construction of Mouchak-Moghbazar flyover.

“As a result, we can hardly sell any products,” alleged Shamsul Hoque, a shop owner at Fortune Shopping Complex.