Mobile wallets and plastic cards have made a pool of customers to tap the benefits of cashless transactions this Eid with an array of discount offers on shopping.
A lot of customers are taking new cards or opening new accounts on the occasion of the nation's largest shopping spree.
The largest local mobile financial service (MFS) bKash has targeted 0.6 million transactions this Eid, said Shamsuddin Haider Dalim, bKash head of corporate communications.
A total of 0.4 million transactions were made through bKash during Eid shopping last year, he told the FE.
The payment network is offering instant cashback up to 20 per cent on a mobile wallet.
Customers can avail this offer in more than 10,000 shopping outlets across the country.
City Bank, having the highest number of cards in circulation, has made wild shopping offers, said Masudul Haque Bhuiyan, head of card division.
He said spending on different ranges of cards rose 30 per cent until Friday.
Dutch-Bangla Bank's Nexus card and mobile wallet Rocket have been running an aggressing marketing pitch on their Eid offers.
Zahid Uddin Mohammad Arif, head of Dutch-Bangla e-business division, said they are taking the scope of revving up the campaign on the occasion of Eid.
Spending through Rocket has seen a 100 per cent rise this Eid, he mentioned.
Mr Arif said many customers have opened new Rocket accounts and took new Nexus cards this time.
They are offering 30 per cent cashback on the purchase amount or Tk 1,000, whichever is lower, on Nexus card.
Meanwhile, Rocket offers 20 per cent cashback on the purchase amount or Tk 300, whichever is lower.
However, a lot of customers complained that the MFS offers were confusing. Many outlets were not giving discount on the total amount of purchases.
About the issue, Mr Arif said some outlets have their ceilings of discount on the payment. They have clearly stated it in the advertisements on the ceiling.
E-commerce sites like Daraz, Bagdoom, Ajkerdeal and Pickaboo are also offering products at discounted fares to attract customers.
A lot of people prefer online shopping during Eid to avoid notorious traffic in the capital.
There are thousands of such marketplaces on social networks and many major brands have their websites and Facebook pages.
Shoppers can place their orders to buy their necessary products online for a free home delivery service.
Facebook home pages of some online shops are the virtual Gawsia and New Market as the Eid shopping has paced up. Moreover, online shops mostly sell products at affordable prices.
Selima Rahman, a Dhanmondi resident, said, "Online shops have made shopping easier for us."
She ordered a pair of earrings online and received the items the next day.
