With hardly two weeks left for the Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, Rajshahi city has been caught by Eid shopping fever with modern and traditional shopping malls bustling with shoppers from all walks of life.Hundreds of people are seen purchasing items of their own choice with huge enthusiasm despite significant rise in prices of all kinds of clothes than the last year. Movement of the shoppers has created huge traffic congestion at the major shopping areas. Market sources said the overall sale is much higher this year because of further improvement in the economic condition of people of all classes.Businessmen, market association leaders and shoppers highly appreciated the government initiatives for creating favorable trade atmosphere during Ramadan and said they had been doing good business in a secured and safe environment.Deployment of huge police personnel at different strategic city-points and market places, intensive surveillance work by the police, RAB and engagement of private security men at shopping malls by the authority concerned have ultimately created a ideal security arrangement for businessmen as well as shoppers.“We are doing our business very well this year as people seem to be relieved from the sense of insecurity. Even as a businessman, I have not faced any untoward situation relating to law and order from the very first day of Ramadan”, said Farid Mamud, General Secretary of RDA Market Businessmen Association.He said people with their family members are coming for shopping this year even at midnight due to improved law and order. “The volume of sale is much higher this year,” he added.Saidul Islam, an owner of Laboni Shari Ghar at Rajshahi New Market said local products particularly Salwar-kameez sets for girls, shoes, sarees with embroidery and stone work, panjabees, shirts and trousers produced by different local fashion houses are attracting the customers.Buyers as well as shoppers said dresses like salwar-kameez, panjabi, saree and other dresses made for children by fashion houses, using the local fabrics and materials, are getting more preferences of the fashion lovers. -BSS, Rajshahi
