When Chand Raat, the night to spot the new moon, would add to the Eid celebrations of the affluent people, the poor of Chittagong city would most probably be seen browsing through the footpath shops to find new clothes for the occasion.

The footpath or roadside shop sellers said they would start getting buyers in large numbers two to three days ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The low-income people viewed the same because they are yet to save up enough or are looking to the night before Eid for cheap purchases.

Abdul Malek, a trader at Sholoshahar Gate No-2, said, "Every year we see them shopping two to three days before Eid day. A good number of them come on the night before Eid."

Sharif Uddin, a trader at GEC Intersection, said, "At present the daily sales of my shops are hovering around Tk 8,000 but it will reach Tk 30,000 two to three days before Eid."

While people like rickshaw-pullers, cobblers, transport workers, street vendors and day labourers wait till Chand Raat to accumulate enough money, restaurant workers, shop staff, security guards and factory workers wait to get their salaries or bonus at that time.

Sales at reduced prices on the night are another reason.

"Every year I go for shopping on Chand Raat, as I can buy clothes at a cheaper rate," said cobbler Md Rubel. "I will have to spend Tk 200 to buy a shirt at present, whereas it will sell at Tk 150 to Tk 120 on Chand Raat," he said.

The sellers tend to sell items at the lowest possible prices or even at buying prices on the night.

Restaurant worker Abdul Halim said, "I am waiting to get my salary and bonus, which will add up to Tk 8,000; I will go for shopping then with my family."

Rickshaw-puller Rahmat Ali said he was saving up every day for the Eid shopping. "I sent some money to my family in the village so that my two children can go for shopping," he said. "I will go home the night before Eid, and before leaving the city I will buy a lungi, a shirt, a pair of sandals and a punjabi for me and a sari, a pair of sandals and some cosmetics for my wife."

He also looks to Chand Raat for cheap purchases.

When asked, Md Tayab, who sells shirts and jeans pants in New Market area, said they would sell even for low profits two to three days before Eid.

"A slump in business continues for the next few months after Eid, so we want to sell as much as we can before Eid," he said.