Monsoon rain for last two days in the Barisal city seriously pushes down trading in clothing and footwear.
It has been raining with intervals at most places over the Barisal city and adjacent areas and the local Meteorology Office fears that the rainfall may continue for days.
Working Class people are facing serious backlash as rough weather forces makeshift street shops and open markets to remain almost shut down.
The traders have said that usually heavy Eid shopping starts after 25th Ramadan, but this year rainy weather is holding back the shoppers.
The larger number of street markets that have been set up on Fazlul Huq Avenue, Port Road, Bazaar Road and Hemayetuddin Road and in front of Chawk Bazar and launch terminal are now in great trouble as temporary water stagnation hit the areas.
Hawkers have to keep their shops shut down or cover with plastic papers.
The situation becomes even worse when drizzle continues for days and the vendors cannot arrange their shops and commodities.
A street hawker Kasem Mia in front of the Court Hawker Market said that he had purchased a good number of shirts to sell in retail, but he failed to sell any item due to continuous rainfall.
Mujahidul Islam, a child dress vendor at launch terminal area, said that he usually did a brisk business in last 15 days of Ramadan, but this year his marketing faced a sharp fall.
Punjabi trader Hasib at Chawkbazar area also echoed Mujahidul Islam.
Abdul Halim, while shopping at a makeshift shop on Bazar Road said that this year the sellers pushed for higher prices than last year.
He also said that he could not complete his shopping due to rain and would have to go shopping on another day.
The traders, however, said that the Eid shopping would rise sharply during last hours.
Abdur Rashid, a salesman at Venus Market, said, 'We hope that Eid shopping will reach its peak if the weather becomes normal with in a day.'
Source : New Age
