Last-minute Eid shopping reaches peak

With the beginning of the final countdown to Eid-ul-Fitr, the city dwellers are rechecking in shopping malls so that they don’t miss anything at the last minute.

People were seen enjoying Dhaka free of its usual traffic congestion on Saturday as most of the homebound holidaymakers left for their hometowns already to celebrate Eid with their families.

Eid shoppers in several shopping malls and markets told this correspondent that the last-minute shopping was not that painstaking for them.

Mahmudur Rahman Palash, a banker from Banasree area, was buying pajama from an outlet at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall.

He said, “I am a last-minute customer. I didn’t shop early to skip the busy traffic. Now Dhaka is almost free from traffic jams and I have come to the mall to purchase products of my choice.”

After the iftar in the evening, men and women were seen buying matching accessories like jewellery, cosmetics and makeup items, and mehendi (henna) from various shops across the city.

“My hands look so pretty with henna art. I love wearing mehendi on any occasion,” Dhaka University student Tinni said while talking to the Daily Sun.

Silvi Raihan, a housewife, was buying cosmetics items from a shop on the ground floor of Bashundhara City.

“I’ve no more shopping left other than some make-up items. It is an essential part of a woman’s shopping,” she said with a broad smile on her face.

Youngsters were also busy buying sunglasses, caps, bangles, nail polish and much more.

“My mother is already done with the Eid shopping for the family members. I am just buying bangles matching my Eid dress,” Tashfia Islam, a shopper, said at Farmgate.

Festivity is in the air. Not only Muslims, but people from other religions are also enjoying the festivity.

Dilip Kumar Saha went to Elephant Road to buy make-up items and shoes for his daughter who has planned to visit her Muslim friends on Eid.

“Happiness has no religion,” he smiled and said. 

Sadia Shikder, a salesperson at Wholesale Club Limited at Jamuna Future Park, said they still expect a huge crowd till ‘Chand raat’ (the night before Eid).

Many Eid shoppers were found buying attar, jaynamaj (prayer mat), surma and tupi in different shops across the city.

“Price of attar has increased this year. Yet I will buy a bottle of attar at it spreads a fragrance of holiness,” Kamruzzaman Sohel, a shopper, said at Baitul Mukarram market.

Perfume and tupi shop owner Zakir Hossain said that London Magnet, Jannatul Ferdous, Rajonigandha, Bakul and Beli perfumes are being sold at the lowest prices this time. Each tola of attar costs Tk 100 to 200.