Shoppers spend 80% of Eid budget on clothing
Eid-ul-Fitr is knocking, and wallets are flying open. As Ramadan winds down, Bangladesh’s shopping fever is spiking—traders eyeing a juicy Tk 2.5 lakh crore haul.
But here is the stitch: 80 per cent of every shopper’s Eid cash is landing on clothes. From Dhaka’s buzzing malls to corner markets, it is a fabric frenzy—and Jago News dove in to see why.
The clothing craze
Jago News hit the streets, chatting up 150 folks—office workers, students, parents—across two weeks of mall-hopping. The verdict? Clothes rule the Eid list. “It’s all about the outfit,” grinned Julia Akhter at New Market, clutching Tk 5,000 from her dad. “Two three-pieces for Tk 4,000, then shoes and bling with the rest.”
Ashraful Islam, a Tejgaon transplant, kept it lean: “Jeans and a tee—done.” Over 50 swore by clothes-only hauls; 18 splashed out on shoes, earrings, even cosmetics—but still, 70-80 per cent of their budgets stitched up in threads.
Traders cash in
Shopkeepers nod along. “Clothes are king,” said Helal Uddin, bigwig at the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association. “Shoes, jewellery, decor—they nibble the other 20 per cent.”
Last Eid raked in Tk 1.96 lakh crore, up from Tk 1.87 lakh in 2023—ten years back, it was Tk 1.55 lakh. This time? “We’re betting on Tk 2.5 lakh crore,” Helal Uddin told Jago News, optimism twinkling. “Bonuses are dropping, sales are warming up—give it a week, and we’ll be golden.” Price hikes? A hiccup, but not a deal breaker.
Beyond the rack
Not everyone is all-in on apparel. Monirul Islam, a private-sector dad, hauled his crew to Bashundhara Shopping Mall. “New kicks and clothes for all five of us—80 per cent on the outfits, though,” he admitted.
Keya Islam, browsing Rajdhani Supermarket, echoed the vibe: “Eid’s new clothes, period. A three-piece and earrings this year.”
Jewellery is losing shine—Wadud Bhuiyan of BAJUS sighed, “Kids want clothes, not gold. Maybe a last-minute ring or two.”
Remittance rocket fuel
Cash is pouring in—Tk 29,768 crore ($2.44 billion) in 22 days, Tk 1,353 crore daily from expats. March might smash December’s $2.64 billion record, turbocharging Eid splurges.
Traders like Idris Ali at Rajdhani Super Market are beaming: “Sales were sleepy early Ramadan—now it’s cotton gowns and tops flying at Tk 1,500-3,000.”
Ali Hossain at Khilgaon Taltola chimed in: “Last 10 days are the jackpot. Prices are up, haggling’s fierce, but we’re good.”
Dressed for the fest
Eid is not just a holiday—it’s a runway. With 80 per cent of budgets draping bodies in fresh fits, the vibe’s clear: look good, feel great. Will Tk 2.5 lakh crore ring the till? As bonuses land and markets hum, Bangladesh is betting on a stylish yes.
