To save themselves from the grip of shivering cold, hundreds of low and fixed income-group people including day labourers, rickshawpullers and workers of different government and private organisations of Rajshahi and the surrounding districts are crowding the footpath-cloth stores to buy warm clothes, but most of them fail to buy because of an exorbitant price. As the sale of warm clothes has increased in Rajshahi, shoppers of the makeshift and the footpath shops are making a good profit.
Rajshahi Meteorological office sources, however, said that cold temperature would continue for more days, which help increase sale of warm clothes.
The poor people are flocking to the footpath and the makeshift shops at Ganakpara Square, Shahebbazar, Newmarket, Laxmipur square, Station roadside, Zero Point, Sonadighi Square to buy second-hand clothes including sweaters, jackets, cardigans, woolen caps and mufflers, wrapper, blanket, and coat. High demand for these garments has increased the price by 50 percent over the last year.
'We have been suffering extremely from a severe cold for a few days. I have come to the town to buy some second-hand warm clothes for my family members. But the price is higher compared with last year, said Musfeka, a female construction worker living in a slum in city outskirt.
Abul Hossain, who sells second-hand warm clothes including jeans jackets, woolen blazers, and sweaters in the Ganakpara market claimed many rich men were also crowding here to buy second-hand warm clothes.
The youths in particular frequently visit the market to buy different items as their quality and designs are better than the new ones,' he added.
Mahbub, a second-hand blanket trader at the Sagorpara crossing area informed the demands for second-hand blankets have increased in recent days. He said, most of the blankets in the markets are fine and well-knit. Those are being sold from Taka 400 to 1,200 per piece according to the quality. He further mentioned that such a new blanket costs nearly Tk 3,000 at the posh markets. People of diverse professions including the rich persons are seen to purchase the blankets from the second-hand markets, he added.
Abdul Hamid sells Jeans Pants, Jackets and shirts at the railway footpath market at Seroil area of the city. He mentioned, a nice, second-hand Jean's pant costs Taka 300 to 400, an almost new second-hand shirt costs Tk 250 to 300 and a well-finished second-hand Jacket is available from Taka 300 to 700. Abdullah (45) of Dargapara area purchased one Jacket at Taka 450 from Sagorpara second-hand cloth market.
He said, the jacket was fine and did not look old. In the Garments shop of the city, such a jacket would cost more than Tk 15,00, informed Abdullah.