<i>City malls abuzz with shoppers</i>

Shoppers in the city went on a shopping frenzy yesterday taking advantage of the weekend. They had less hassle in shopping centres even though getting there was not any easier than on any other day.
Shoppers were busy buying mostly gifts for their dear ones. Many of them failed to shop due to tight schedules and found the Friday and Saturday weekend convenient. The streets were, however, congested as before.
"The timing of Eid this year is very interesting. The weekend has been added to the official holidays from Sunday. So we have two days to shop," said Alamgir Hossain, a resident of Moghbazar, who went to the city's Bashundhara Shopping Complex yesterday afternoon.
The streets were quite free until yesterday afternoon as many remained at home to observe Jumatul Wida, the last Juma in the holy month of Ramadan.
But the streets saw a surge of traffic in the afternoon with tailbacks mainly on Mirpur Road and Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in front of top shopping arcades like New Market, Gausia and Bashundhara Shopping Complex.
Alamgir, who went shopping with his family, said he had little time for shopping before. "Besides, I knew that shopping malls will be comparatively less crowded on Friday and Saturday," he said.
Traders said besides clothes, many were buying Atar (perfume), caps, gift items, and cosmetics for their relatives. Many of the low-income groups, including readymade garment workers and rickshaw pullers also joined the shopping frenzy yesterday.
"My holiday begins from Saturday [today] but I left the factory earlier today [yesterday] to buy things for my family members," said Nasima Akter, a garment worker at Karwan Bazar yesterday afternoon.
"My wage is not much but with that I will shop for all. My parents expect something, don't they? I will buy a lungi, a sari, two shirts, a dress for me and some cosmetics," said Nasima of Kurigram.
Those staying in Dhaka during Eid also exhaled a sigh of relief yesterday hoping the streets would be less congested for at least two weeks with the mass exodus of home goers.
"Yes, we shall enjoy Eid. We shall also enjoy the streets free of traffic jams," said Hridoy, a student of Tejgaon College at Farm Gate.