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The sale of warm clothes, especially blankets, is yet to gain momentum in the capital compared to the same period in the previous year, said wholesale and retail traders.
Sellers were seen plying blankets at some makeshift shops around the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Dainik Bangla mor and Motijheel on Thursday.
However, they were seen passing idle time due to low turnout of buyers.
“We hardly sell five to seven blankets a day” said Burhanul Amir, 25, who have been in the business for the last three years.
Cold wave and temperature fall are yet to hit the city, which is one of main reasons behind the lackluster sale of warm clothes.
The low turnout of buyers is due to the unrest prevailing in the capital ahead of the upcoming national election, said some sellers.
Rahamat Ullah, 45, a seller near Dainik Bangla Mor said, “Fearing political turmoil, people are avoiding these places, and we are yet to get satisfactory responses from them in the middle of this winter”.
We hardly sell Tk 4,000 to 5,000 worth of goods a day, therefore make little profits to run our family, added the frustrated seller.
Burhanul’s uncle, who is also a wholesale seller, told the FE that the fewer retail sales ultimately impact the wholesale business chain.
Sales will gain momentum once the mercury levels drop further and the city feels the chill, they hoped.
There are some 250 makeshift shops in these areas where small, medium and large blankets and worm clothes are being sold.
Locally made blankets are being sold at Tk 200 to Tk 500, whereas imported blankets are being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 1,200.
Besides, import-quality family size blankets are being sold at Tk 2,000 to 5,000, said the sellers.