The New Nation - Internet Edition

Shamim Jahangir

In sharp contrast to the previous years, the number of businessmen and politicians buying Eid gift items from the mega shopping malls and boutique houses in the capital in huge quantity has dropped substantially this year.

Their subdued enthusiasm for buying costly brand items on the eve of the Eid festival is attributed by some to increased vigilance of the anti-corruption department.

The owners of several shopping malls in posh areas said that normally Eid shopping picks up from the fifteenth day of the Ramazan. But we are not witnessing the surge of customers at the shops selling sarees, Punjabis, fatwas and shirts this time, they said.

Khandaker Mahbubul Alam, Manager of Maudline, a wear house at Basundhara City, told the New Nation that there was a heavy rush of customers to his shop to buy panjabis, shirts and pants last year." We are still passing through a dull period this season," he noted.

Last year, we noticed a single customer buying over a dozen punabi or shirt.

The enthusiasm of the high profile customers is missing this year, he further said.

On the other hand, the consumers belonging to higher middle class have been forced to cut their Eid budget in the wake of 15 to 20 percent hike in the prices of men and women wears this year.

Mantra, an exclusive fashion store at Gulshan-1, is stuffed with all kinds of men and women branded apparels.

"Mantra is selling Indian 'Orly' brand Pnjabi at prices ranging from Tk 2,000 to Tk 9,000, men's wear 'Fatua' from Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000, Indian and Thailand brand shirts (Arrow, Venenteno, GQ) between tk 1,600 and Tk 5,500, T-shirt brand like 'crocodile', 'wrangler', 'GQ' 'Hazard', 'colour plus' price between 1,500 and Tk 4,500, jeans pant price (Lee, wrangler) between Tk 2,500 and Tk 5,500, formal pant between Tk 2,000 and Tk 5,500," Saiful Islam, an executive of Mantra told the New Nation.

"Besides, we have also offered the women wear like Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi brand sarees at prices varying from Tk 1,000 to 80,000 according to quality," he said.

Saiful Islam admitted that shopping spree is still short of this expectation and that it is yet to reach the last year's level. Atiqualla, sales manager of Rich Man, a men's wear house at Basundhara City, said that they offer colourful and well-designed dresses for young fashioners.

He informed that the prices of all kinds of their products have increased by 10 to 15 percent this year.

Fashion conscious young men are thronging the men's wear house "Dorjibari" at the same market to buy the latest model shirts, pants, jeans and blazers.

He said they have introduced exclusive shirt like 'blue door' for Eid.

Shariq Mahmood, director of Menz Klub, a fashion house, however, expressed his satisfaction over the good sale from his outlet during the last couple of days.

Simon Khna, a manager of Marsal, another wear house of Basundhara city told the New Nation that their business has started falling since last year and blamed the government's anti corruption drive for the worse condition of business this year.

Aheli, a fashion Panjabi collection house, is selling different verities of Panjabi between Tk 690 and Tk 10,000 each.

Aktheruzzaman, owner of Designer's Menswear at DCC Park Market-Gulshan-1, said that a good number of politicians and businessmen used to come to my fashion houses on the eve of every Eid in the past. "But their visit is few and far between this year," he said.

Prince, proprietor of 'The Cheo,' a fashion house at Navana Tower in Gulshan area, said that the business of his fashion house has decreased by 30 percent compared since last year.

Kumudini Handicrafts, a unit of Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal Ltd, is charging Tk 750 to Tk 5,200 for one piece of Punjabi.

Nazir Hossan, manager sales of Khan Brothers, an exclusive design house in Star World at Gulshan, said their sale of Punjabi and sharwani is dull this time.