Winter chill boosts warm-clothes sales on Ctg footpaths

With the winter chill biting hard, Chattogram’s footpaths have transformed into bustling hubs for winter commerce.

People from low- and middle-income groups are increasingly seen gathering around street vendors to buy affordable attire to shield themselves from the cold.

According to Bashir Ahmed, deputy forecasting officer of Chattogram Met Office, the highest temperature in Chattogram was 25.6 degrees Celsius while the lowest temperature was 13.5 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Hawkers have strategically occupied key locations across the port city, including the New Market area, Jamal Khan, Chawkbazar Gulzar intersection, Sholoshahar Gate No 2, Kazir Dewri, Anderkilla, Laldighi, Station Road, Bahaddarhat, Muradpur, EPZ, and Agrabad.

Beyond these traditional hubs, isolated makeshift shops have also mushroomed in residential areas like Dewan Bazar.

Driven by significantly lower prices compared to high-end shopping malls, sales at these makeshift stalls are gaining momentum.

Street vendors on Jamal Khan Road showcased a wide array of knitwear, attracting a large number of customers, primarily parents waiting for their children at the nearby Dr Khastagir Government Girls’ High School.

Among them, Deepa Saha, who was selecting a sweater for her daughter, said, “The demand is high, and vendors are asking for steeper prices than usual.”

At the Cinema Palace intersection, vendor Alamgir Hossain was busy folding blankets. He shared that his stock consists of blankets imported from China. “As the chill intensified, customers started asking for blankets, so I have stocked my stall accordingly,” he said.

Abdul Mannan, a local hawker in the Laldighir Par area, explained that they are selling adult wear for Tk 200 and children’s items for Tk 100. “These are fixed prices; we don’t appreciate bargaining here,” he said firmly.

However, for some, bargaining remains a necessity. Khaleda Akter, who came to Laldighi with her son, was seen negotiating hard with a vendor. “We cannot afford the glitzy shopping malls, so I’ve come here to find something cheaper for my son.”

The winter season means a major investment for these small-scale traders. Kamal Uddin, a hawker at Laldighir Par, invested Tk 2 lakh this season. “I bought 20 bundles of warm clothes at Tk 10,000 each,” he said. Each bundle typically contains around eight varieties of items, including woollen caps, scarves, gloves, and earmuffs.

“My daily sales hover between Tk 3,000 and Tk 4,000. Depending on the quality, I sell sweaters for anywhere between Tk 200 and Tk 500,” he added.