The posh shopping malls in the city are being busy day by day, but the markets for middle and lower income groups are yet to gain momentum.

Shopkeepers said that common people would pour into the market after Ramadan 20.

"The number of buyers are not satisfactory till date but I think the scenario will change within days as the employees are likely to get their monthly salary as well as Eid bonus," Sohel, a hawker who sells garments at Agrabad Commercial Area, said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the shopping malls in the city were illuminated and colourfully decorated with the beginning of Ramadan to attract customers.

Posh city markets and shopping malls already wore a busy look and it continues till midnight as thousands of shoppers are thronging the markets to purchase new dresses and other household materials before Eid.

On the other hand, the shopkeepers are on the final race to enrich their collections to meet the buyers’ demand.

Indian garments are available at all the posh markets, including New Market, Amin Centre, Central Plaza, Lucky Plaza, Mimi Super Market and Chittagong Shopping Complex. "Mainly Indian sarees, three piece, salwar kameez and clothes for kids are the attraction of the buyers," Mamun, a shopkeeper at Chittagong Shopping complex, said.

Shahnaz Chowdhury Boby, a housewife, at Teribazar market on Saturday told this correspondent that Indian three pieces and sarees flooded the market. "But the price is too high for the middle and lower income people this year," she added.

The Eid dress exhibition and Eid Fair is another attraction for the middle class. 'Bindu', a new fashion house only for the women, has arranged a two-day exhibition on 'women's dress and ornament' on the local Shilpakala academy premises on Saturday.

Designer Suraiya Akhter Ripa, also owner of Bindu, said that the exhibition ended with positive feedback from the middle class people.

On the other hand, a 20-day long WE Eid Fair began at Bangladesh Women Association (BWA) school ground. Women Entrepreneurs, Chittagong organised the fair. Around 50 stalls of clothes and other household materials, including sarees, panjabees, bags and ornaments, were set up at the fair valley.

'Eid Pannaay Mela' began at many shopping malls and the markets announced prizes to draw attention of the customers.

Local sarees are being sold at the markets for middle class between Tk 400 and 2000, " Jardashi saree" at Tk 4000 and Devdas saree between Tk 1500 and 2800. Besides, three pieces for young girls are selling between Tk 450 and 1800.

Many crowded the boutique houses that opened at different city points particularly at the residential areas to promote their Eid sale.

Meanwhile, the authorities concerned could not ensure proper security measures to the shopper. Incident of mugging has increased at an alarming rate ahead of the Eid. At least 15 such incidents have so far been reported in the city since the Ramadan began. Many other incidents remained unreported.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police have deployed only 1500 forces at different points in the city to check public hazard. But the number of police inadequate against 40 lakh city dwellers.