Trades are taking advantage of the increasing demand for warm clothes amid a bone-chilling weather which is likely to continue for a few days more.
People are thronging the markets and makeshift stalls on Dhaka’s footpaths to buy clothes for winter, prompting sellers to hike prices. Vendors said they have also stockpiled colourful winter wears to attract buyers.
A large number of people were seen at shopping centres and markets in Gulistan, Bangabazar, Chawkbazar, New Market, Elephant Road, Baitul Mokarram Mosque area, Mouchak and Bashundhara shopping complex. Makeshift shops on footpaths are doing brisk sales.
Traders said buyers are more interested in sweaters, jackets and shawls that have hit the stands recently. Anis Hawlader, a salesman in Bangabazar, said they usually get good response from customers during chilly days. “The price of each blanket increased by Tk20-100 thanks to the cold weather,” he said.
Anis said they are now selling a local blanket at Tk90-500 and imported one at Tk450 to Tk4, 000. “We’ll keep selling the items until February,” he added.
Azizul Islam, a trader from New Market, said business is brisk because of several days of severe cold. “Our sale has been good in the last four days. We hope to sell warm clothes for another two months,” he added. Jatrabari resident Harun Mia said he bought clothes for himself and his children from the market. “I bought these because of severe cold. We don’t know when the weather will improve,” he added.
The demand for winter cosmetics items such as petroleum jelly, moisturizer cream, lotion, lip balm and glycerin has also gone up. Jasim Uddin, general secretary of Polwel Super Market (an imported apparel business hub of the country), said they were selling only imported high-end clothes.
“The sales increase if there’s severe cold. Our sales have been great in the last several days because of the cold wave. It’ll increase further if the cold persists,” he added.
