Dhaka: Makeshift shops on footpaths and open spaces in the capital and other major cities across the country are doing a brisk business as the low-income and poor people are crowding those for buying things at cheaper rates amid an eid shopping frenzy.

These makeshift stalls are seen as hotspots for cheap jeans and gabardine pants, jerseys, shirts, T-shirts, panjabis, trousers, footwear, belts, caps, lungis, wallets, children clothes, girls’ attires, cosmetics and toys, reports the UNB.

As FIFA World Cup 2018 is scheduled to kick off just a couple of days before the Eid-ul-Fitr, many people, mostly young chaps and children, are crowding makeshift shops to buy the jerseys of their favourite football teams as the prices of the item is much cheaper there than shopping malls’.

Traders said the jerseys of Argentina and Brazil football teams are in great demand and they are making good profit selling the jerseys.

According to reports received from UNB district correspondents, makeshift shops in different cities and district towns, including Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Sylhet and Cumilla, are abuzz with customers for eid shopping and buying jerseys.

Most buyers said they are shopping at the footpath stalls as they cannot afford expensive items at the shopping malls.

However, makeshift shop owners voiced a little dismay that sporadic rain is hampering their business greatly.

In the capital, people were seen crowding around the makeshift shops in Nilkhet, Motijheel, Paltan, Jatrabari, Sadarghat, Gulistan, Bangabazar Farmgate, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10, Mohakhali, Fakirerpool, Mouchak, Rampura and Badda areas on Monday and Tuesday to complete their last-minute shopping.

Abdul Hakim, a private bank night guard, who had come to buy eid dresses for his son at Gulistan, said, ‘Quality products are available here at a cheap rate. I bought a shirt here at Tk 400. I think I couldn’t buy such a shirt even at Tk 1,000 from any market.’

‘We’re at the footpath shops for eid shopping as the items are cheap here comparing to markets and shopping centres,’ said Anwara Begum, an RMG worker, at Mouchak.

Alamgir Hossain, a Dhaka College student, said he first visited some stalls at shopping malls to buy a jeans pant, a jersey of Brazil but he failed to do so due to excessive prices. ‘Shop owners there were demanding Tk 2,000 to 3,000 for a pant while Tk 1,200 for a jersey. Later, I came here, Nilkhet, and bought a jeans pant and a jersey at Tk 500 and 600 respectively.’

A number of vendors, especially those who keep jerseys with other items, said their sales volumes and profit this year are higher than previous years.

Kamal Hossain, a vendor who sells different types of pants, shirts, jerseys and panjabis on footpaths at Motijheel, said he made a good profit this time with huge sales of his products.’We could have done better business had there been no rain.’

Nazmul Hossain, a salesman of a jersey shop at New Market, said this year, the demand of jerseys is a bit higher than the previous years due to the festive season. ‘We’re witnessing a huge rush of customers and the sales are also good.’

The vendors alleged that they have to pay toll to local political leaders and law enforcers for running their businesses on the footpaths.