A large number of city dwellers are crowding the makeshift shops in different areas of the capital including Gulistan, Bangabazar, and New Market as the mild cold is gradually tightening its grip, reports UNB.

The vendors said during the past few days their sales of warm clothes marked a sharp rise while the customers said the prices have shot up.

Visiting the Gulistan market near Baitul Mukarram mosque the UNB correspondent found a good number of buyers, especially those belonging to low and fixed-income groups, crowding the makeshift shops to buy warm clothes at affordable prices.

Buyers from other districts are thronging the Gulistan wholesale market to buy winter clothes at retail or wholesale prices.

Md. Najid, a resident of Old Dhaka, said, "I do most of my shopping round the year from here. The prices are very low and there are many products here, so anyone has the opportunity to choose the products they like. I came here to buy warm clothes. A seller asked for a jacket Tk 2200, but I bought it for Tk 800."

Another buyer Nuruzzaman, who is a resident of Gazipur, said, "The advantage of shopping here is that you can buy as per your budget through bargaining. Quality warms clothes can be bought at comparatively low prices."

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan