Sale of warm clothes on rise at makeshift shops
People throng makeshift shops on the ground of Thakurgaon Government Boys' High School to buy warm clothes as winter has arrived early in the northern districts. PHOTO: STAR
With the winter already set in, the northern districts see boost in the sale of warm clothes and blankets, especially at makeshift shops in different northern districts.
A good number of buyers, especially those belonging to low and fixed income groups, are crowding the makeshift shops in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts to buy warm clothes as this season sees early arrival of winter, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.
Taking the advantage of huge demand of second-hand winter clothes including woollen sweaters, jackets, cardigans, trousers, mufflers and gloves and kids wear, makeshift shop owners and roadside vendors are charging high prices, buyers alleged.
Depending on size, quality and attractiveness, the prices of a single blanket (made of cut pieces of garment factories) vary from Tk 150 to 300, that of a second hand sweater between Tk 150 and 300, and a jacket between Tk 300 to Tk 1200.
Usually the winter comes late November or early December but from last year these northern districts witness cold weather from the first week of November.
“I have come to buy a woollen sweater or a jacket for my daughter but the shopkeepers are demanding high prices,” rickshaw puller Fazlu said during this correspondent's visit to a makeshift warm-cloth's market on Thakurgaon Government Boys High School ground on Thursday.
"As the winter arrived early I have come here to buy some second-hand warm clothes for my family members,” said Shafiqul Islam, a forth class employee of Abdur Rashid Degree College at Farabari village under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.
Jahangir, owner of a shop at the makeshift market, said low and fixed income group people including day labourers, rickshaw-pullers and low paid employees of government and private organisations are crowding his shop.
Asked about high prices, he said they have to buy the items for high prices too.
During another visit in Panchagarh on Friday afternoon, Khalil Bhuiyan, who sells second-hand warm clothes including jeans jackets, woollen blazers and sweaters at Boda Bazar in Boda upazila under the district, said many well-off people, especially youths, are also buying the items from the second hand shops as their quality and designs are good.
Our Narail correspondent adds: Sale of old warm clothes at roadside footpath shops at different places of three upazilas in the district has shot up as winter seems to have arrived early this year.
Biting cold during the morning and night causes suffering of poor people, especially those living in rural areas. Most of the poor and low income people are crowding the roadside footpath shops to buy old sweaters and jackets while a good number of ultra-poor ones are waiting for warm cloths as help from the government or non-government organisations.
These people are trying to combat the chilling cold with the heat from burning straw and old rubber tyres.
Visiting different roadside markets in the town, this correspondent found low income people thronging there to buy warm clothes but many of them are frustrated due to high prices.
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