Last minute Eid shopping

Trying on sunglasses at Twin Tower Concord Shopping complex on Thursday. Photo: Farjana Liakat
Trying on sunglasses at Twin Tower Concord Shopping complex on Thursday. Photo: Farjana Liakat

The final countdown to Eid-ul-Fitr has begun and the city dwellers are rechecking their Eid shopping lists to see whether or not anything has been missed out.

People are enjoying Dhaka free of its usual traffic congestion as many people have left for their hometown already to celebrate Eid with their families. So the last minute shopping is not that painstaking.

It is mostly ‘accessories’ time! The main items have already been bought and it’s just the little extras that are mostly on the last-minute list. Men and women were seen on Thursday evening buying matching accessories like jewellery, cosmetics and make up, sunglasses and mehendi (henna) at various shops across the city.

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

Minutes before Iftar of the last day of fasting this year, Friday, shops like Mustafa Mart, Almas, Lubnan and Ecstasy at Basundhara City were full of shoppers.

Palash Mahbub, a banker from Green Road area, said he remains a last-minute customer. "My wife is already done with the Eid shopping for the family. I am just buying a Punjabi for my father," he said.

Sadia Shikder, a salesperson at Mustafa Mart, said male shoppers were mainly buying apparels and female shoppers items like cosmetics. She still expected a huge crowd at midnight of the 'Chand raat' or the night before Eid.

Silvi Raihan, a housewife, was buying cosmetics items form a shop named 'Maks' on the ground floor. "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.

Make up items arranged in Tuba’s Cosmetics and Baby Shop. Photo: Farjana Liakat
Make up items arranged in Tuba’s Cosmetics and Baby Shop. Photo: Farjana Liakat

A day before at Almas Super Shop, Nawsheen from Badda looked excited about the Eid celebration as she was buying mehendi and lipstick matching with her Eid clothes.

“My hands look so pretty with henna art. I love wearing mehendi on any occasion,” Nawsheen said.

An elderly woman was buying a lot of nail polish and lipstick at a shop in Rapa Plaza in Dhanmondi.

Asked, Rashida Begum said, “Since Eid-ul-Fitr comes once a year so we don’t worry about expenses. Only the happiness of my grandchildren matters.”

The owner of Tuba’s Cosmetic and Baby Shop in Twin Tower Concord Shopping Complex in Shantinagar said, “Since many people these days buy cosmetic and make up items online, business is not so high. But it’s not bad either.”

Business of shoe outlets has already slowed down as most of the shoppers usually buy shoes the same day that they buy their clothes.

“From morning to 3:00pm , there was a sale of almost Tk 90,000 yesterday. Today it’s less than Tk 20,000,” said Md Solaiman, the salesperson of Bata Karwan Bazar outlet on Friday afternoon.

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

Phani Bhushon Malo came to buy make up items for his niece who has planned to visit her Muslim friends on Eid.

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

Dazzling bangles and jewellery on display at Essentials jewellery shop in Shantinagar. Photo: Farjana Liakat
Dazzling bangles and jewellery on display at Essentials jewellery shop in Shantinagar. Photo: Farjana Liakat

The malls and shopping complexes remain open till midnight on the last night of Eid. The jewellery shops are seeing throngs of shoppers.

The sales person of Essentials Shantinagar outlet, a renowned jewellery chain, said, there are a huge demand for bangles and earrings. Some are  even coming with the dresses and saris to match them with the stones in their choice jewellery items.

Boys and men are mostly seen to buy sunglasses, caps and pajamas in various stores.

Sadman, a resident of Chamelibagh came to Mouchak Fortune Shopping Mall to buy matching pajamas to wear with the panjabi he bought for Eid.

“You see, I am a bit overweight. I cannot offer my Eid prayers in jeans,” Sadman burst out laughing.

Tasnuva from Rajarbag police line was buying tons of make-up items from Stardust in Navana Baily Star. She said, “I am a shopaholic. I cannot do without my kajal and lipsticks. I wear them even when going to the vegetable market. So just imagine how many make up items I need on Eid,” she said in one breath.

Tasnuva was right. There is no end for Eid shopping. Shopaholics like Tasnuva always have their perfect reason for shopping “We are not wasting money for shopping, we are helping boost the economy!”

*Galib Ashraf has contributed to filing of this report