The recent bone-chilling winter weather, coupled with midnight rain and rising winds, has stirred upheaval in the lives of Gaibandha residents, compelling them to flock to pavement shops in search of warmth. The demand for hot clothing has surged, turning the sidewalks of various areas in the Gaibandha district city into bustling hubs for winter wear.
Lower and middle-class families are thronging these sidewalk shops to secure winter clothing, given the intensifying cold. While the cost of new clothes remains a bit steep, eager buyers are turning to second-hand clothing stores where sales are brisk from morning till night. Despite a slightly milder winter compared to previous years, the recent days have been severe, forcing rural communities and pastures to endure freezing conditions, particularly affecting the vulnerable, such as the elderly and young children.
As winter progresses, temporary pavement shops have sprung up across different parts of the city, importing and selling winter clothes to meet the escalating demand. A visit to various areas of the district city on Tuesday (January 16) revealed a bustling scene of winter clothes being sold on pavements, including PK Biswas Road, Gownpatti, Kacharibazar, Park Road, Station Road, and in front of Nabi Bazar.
Rickshaw driver Mahatab Miar (25) from Ballamjhar area shared, "We are poor people, and better winter clothes are available on the pavements at a cheaper price than in the famous and expensive markets. Therefore, winter clothes are bought from here for the whole family during winter."
Abdul Hamid (65) from Rothbazar area emphasized the economic challenges faced by some, saying, "We cannot afford warm winter clothes except on the roadside. So, I came to the footpath to buy cheap winter warm clothes for my granddaughters Sumna and Sumi. I bought jackets for the two granddaughters for Tk 800."
Mozaffar Hossain (32), a vendor in the town's gownpatty area, noted, "I usually sell various types of warm clothes, including sweaters, blazers, trousers, jackets, sundresses, and hats." He added that the demand for warm clothes has surged in the severe cold of the past few days, leading to excellent sales throughout the winter season.
Speaking with these pavement shopkeepers, it was revealed that prices range from Tk 100 to 300 for each sweater, Tk 150 to 400 for jackets, Tk 50 to 120 for full sleeve genji, and blazers are priced between Tk 100 to 400.
The bone-chilling winter in Gaibandha has spurred a significant increase in the purchase of warm clothing, with residents seeking affordable options in the face of harsh weather conditions.