Drastic drop in mercury across the country, including the capital, prompted people to rush for buying warm clothes on Thursday, raising their sales manifold.
Sales of warm clothes, including blanket, sweater, blazer, shawl, caps and socks etc, have witnessed a sharp increase in the last few days, especially on Wednesday and Thursday, said traders.
Sudden temperature fall on Wednesday pushed their sales up, which was not satisfactory even in last week, they added.
City people were seen thronging different shopping centres, makeshift shops and footpath vendors across the capital to buy various warm clothes.
Huge rush of buyers was seen in different areas, including Baitul Mukarram, Dainik Bangla, Dhaka College, Dhaka New Market, Mirpur-10, and Elephant Road.
Besides, sales at showrooms of different brands in the shopping malls also witnessed a sharp rise. Different brands were also seen offering special discount on last year's products.
Customers, however, alleged that the prices for warm clothes have been hiked unethically, even been doubled, because of the sudden rise in their demand.
Sajibur Rahman, a private sector service-holder, told the FE that when he visited Dhaka New Market on Thursday, he observed price hike of warm clothes due to sharp rise in demand.
"Last year I bought a blazer at a cost of Tk 1,500, while the price of a similar blazer was asked Tk 2,500 in New Market on Thursday, which is unfair."
The traders are making higher profit amid huge demand for warm clothes, he added.
Abdul Aziz, an entrepreneur, told the FE that he came to buy a blazer after the sudden temperature fall at Bashundhara Shopping Mall in the city. He bought warm clothes for his children and other family members.
He, however, observed that brand showrooms have a tendency to hike prices of warm clothes in the peak hours of winter, especially in case of sudden mercury fall, which puts middle-income group of people in difficulties.
Traders at New Market also acknowledged that prices of these items increased slightly because of the sudden huge demand.
Ohidul Islam, sales manager at a showroom at Bashundhara Shopping Mall, told the FE: "We have new collection apart from last year's products with discount offers."
He too echoed rise in their sales for the last few days, but denied charging high prices.
In the meantime, major gatherings were witnessed in front of makeshift shops and footpath vendors across the city, as prices of warm clothes for all ages and genders are somewhat reasonable there.
"We hardly sold blankets and other warm clothes until last week. But with the sudden advent of winter, our sales have increased manifold in last two days," said Amirul Islam Amir, 45, owner of a makeshift shop on the road opposite to Dhaka College.
Similar scenario was observed in Baitul Mukarram National Mosque area. Traders there said prices of various products are almost unchanged, while buyers observed that prices have increased in many cases.
Locally-made blankets are being sold at Tk 200 to Tk 500 per piece on an average in the city, and imported blankets are being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 1,200.
Imported family-size blankets of good quality are being sold this year at Tk 2,000 to Tk 5,000 each. Prices of sweaters vary from Tk 400 to Tk 1,000 each, and blazers from Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,500 at different shopping centres.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecasted that the foggy and cold weather is likely to continue for two more days, and weather could be better from December 22.
At present, a mild cold-wave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Jashore and Chuadanga.
The mild cold-wave is likely to sweep over the north-western parts of the country in the next 72 hours, commencing from Thursday, with further temperature fall all across the country, meteorologist of the Dhaka met office Aftab Uddin told the FE.
Weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky over the country, and moderate to thick fog may be visible at places during midnight until morning.
The country's maximum temperature was recorded at 29.8 degree Celsius in Teknaf, and the lowest temperature was recorded at 7.9 degree Celsius in Chuadanga, the BMD added.
