Compared to Ramadan, Eid‑ul‑Adha usually sees lighter shopping. But this year, the slowdown has been so dramatic that even seasoned shopkeepers are left astonished. Sales have nearly evaporated, casting doubt over Eid bonuses.
On Monday, just three days before Eid, New Market and Bashundhara Shopping Mall looked quiet, with shops standing almost empty. In a bid to attracts buyers, some outlets rolled out discounts as steep as 70 per cent, yet footfall remained thin.
Mohammad Jasim, a seller at “Jugantari Saree Museum” in Dhanmondi Hawkers Market, said, “Sales were good a few days ago, but now there are hardly any customers.”
Those who did come to saree shops were mostly buying for weddings after Eid or for gifts. Mohammad Hasan Mia of “Nakshi Jamdani” said, “Many are only picking up a few cotton sarees as gifts for relatives.”
At “Anushka Fashion,” a children’s clothing shop in New Market, one seller said sales were far less satisfactory compared to previous Eid‑ul‑Adha seasons. “Usually, people try to buy clothes for children, but even that is less this time,” he said.
Most sales were of mid‑priced items — T‑shirts between Tk200–500 and pants between Tk600–700, he added.
A seller at “Nazma Fashion” remarked that sales have been sluggish since Ramadan, and it has worsened during this Eid.
Men’s clothing stores showed a mixed picture. At “Jordana Club” in Bashundhara City, Mohammad Zakir Hossain said, “This year’s sales haven’t even reached 50 per cent of last year’s.”
However, he hoped extending shop hours from 7pm to 10pm would help, but it only increased costs.
At “Gentle Breeze,” however, Naeem Ahmed said there is a demand for their premium cotton panjabis and kablis. “But most shops in the market have no sales this time.”
A saree seller at “Nilachal” called the situation unprecedented. “I’ve never seen such poor sales in my life. The entire market is empty,” he said adding that staff numbers had been cut from 20 to 8 due to the slump.
Dhaka University Prof Shahadat Siddiqui sees the empty Eid markets as a reflection of the country’s broader economic condition.
He told Times of Bangladesh, “Persistent high inflation and economic slowdown have reduced real incomes, especially among the middle and lower classes.”
He explained that wages and incomes have failed to keep pace with rising essential prices, eroding purchasing power. He added, “People are avoiding extra spending unless necessary, which has directly impacted the Eid market.”
