Warm clothes market buzz with buyers

The hawkers' market of second-hand warm clothes in the town is buzzing with buyers due to the current spell of bone-chilling cold.

The market has been temporarily set up in front of the deputy commissioner's office.

People from not only the poor and low-income families but also from solvent families are coming to the market to buy warm clothes at cheap prices.

Buyers are claiming that the prices of second-hand warm clothes are higher than last year's. 

Abdur Rahim, a shopkeeper of College Para area in the town, said he, a low income man, came to buy second-hand warm clothes for his family members, including children, at cheaper prices. "I am struggling to buy the clothes from the hawkers' market as the prices are higher this year than in previous years," he added.   

Halima Khatun, a buyer from Sabalia area in the town, said the price of a lady's sweater is Tk 150 to Tk 200, which was Tk 80 to Tk 100 last year. "Moreover, the clothes are of lower quality than previous years," she added.

Harun-ur-Rashid, a second-hand warm clothes trader at the market, however, said a bale of warm clothes which they bought from Chittagong cost Tk 10,000 to Tk 16,000 last year, while it was Tk 14,000 to Tk 20,000 this year. 

"We can't make profit of more than Tk 1,000 by selling the clothes at retail rate as most of the buyers are poor and want to buy clothes at cheaper prices," he added.

District unit of Hawkers' League President Badsha Miah said people of all classes from not only the district town but also from 12 upazilas in the district are coming to the hawkers' market to buy warm clothes, no matter whether the prices are lower or higher than in previous years.

"The hawkers' market of second-hand warm clothes is helping people, especially the poor people who cannot afford to buy clothes from the markets and shopping malls at higher prices," he added.