In the past, Bangladesh’s tiny enterprises and stores would benefit greatly from the holiday that signifies the end of Ramadan, frequently making revenues that would have covered their entire annual budget. But this year, a lot of people worry that because of weak sales and inflation that has risen to 9.5 per cent or more over the previous 12 months, they won’t even be able to pay their rent each month.
In Dhaka markets such New Market, Mouchak, and Bashundhara, as well as stores in Gulshan, Banani, and Mirpur regions sales of branded shops had increased over the previous year. On the other hand, sales of stores that offer cheap goods have dropped, suggesting that people with low incomes are under financial difficulty and are spending less discretionary money.
The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association found that during Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr, approximately Taka 170,000 crore is exchanged. Taka 37,400 crore of this amount is spent on clothes, over Taka 70,000 crore is spent on zakat, and an additional Taka 27,000 crore is set aside for additional food expenses.
