The number of high-end buyers in the capital's shopping malls has decreased. But, smaller and lower-priced stores are seeing an increase in foot traffic. Sellers in brand shops claim their sales have dropped by 20-30 percent compared to previous years. The big buyers are almost absent this time.

The brand stores are seeing fewer customers at shopping malls like Gulistan, Newmarket, Bashundhara City, and Jamuna Future Park. There's only a slight crowd in the Punjabi and footwear shops. The rest of the shops have idle salespeople.

However, markets like Gausia, Bongobazar, and Chandni Chowk are experiencing heavy street crowds.

In these local markets, most clothing brands have showrooms in major malls like Jamuna Future Park and Bashundhara City. When visiting these malls, it's evident that people are crowding the stores to buy Punjabi sets. Some are even browsing pants, shirts, and other items.

Md Selim, a cashier at the Richman showroom in Bashundhara City, says there are no big buyers this year. In previous years, customers would spend BDT 60-70 thousand in one go, but that's not the case this year.

He said to Bonik Barta, "One regular customer spent nearly BDT 1 lakh last year. This time, he only bought two T-shirts. We are getting smaller buyers, but no one shops in large amounts."

Jahangir Hafeez Akash manages Giordano, a store in the same shopping mall that sells shirts, T-shirts, and pants.

Yesterday afternoon, there were no customers in the store. However, nearby, a Punjabi store had a crowd. Jahangir Hafeez told Bonik Barta, "There are hardly any sales. This time, even paying the salaries of the staff will be a struggle."

Jamuna Future Park is another popular shopping destination for the upper and upper-middle classes. Almost all major brands have stores there.

In recent years, Illyeen has become famous for its Punjabi sets. The store also sells shirts, pants, and other products. An assistant at Illyeen said, "This year, only Punjabis are selling a bit. The other items are not selling well. Last year, customers bought multiple items at once. This year, purchases are scattered."

Another store in Bashundhara City, Maisha World, sells clothing for girls and children. The store manager, Md Ujjal, said, "Before the 20th day of Ramadan, sales were decent. After that, sales dropped sharply. Overall, sales have decreased by 20-30 percent this year."

Gulshan-Banani is the most upscale area in Dhaka. In recent years, several high-end foreign brand stores have opened here.

In previous years, these stores would be open for sale from midnight until 1-2 am during Eid. However, sellers are preparing to close their shops this year by 10 pm. They say they have to close early due to the lack of customers.

One senior official from an elite store, Vasabi, told Bonik Barta, "This year, sales are very low. There is also less foot traffic." While he couldn't specify the exact decline, he mentioned, "The sales are much lower than last year."

Bonik Barta asked the officials of these high-end brand stores about the reason for the decline in sales. While they didn't comment specifically, they suggested that the political changes have decreased shopping among the upper class.

There is also surveillance of those buying high-priced items in shopping malls, which has decreased their purchases.

While shopping among the upper and upper-middle class has dropped in the country, markets like Gausia, Bongobazar, Chandni Chowk, and street-side shops are seeing overflowing crowds.

Vendors in these markets say that they're not overly disappointed even though sales aren't as high as expected. Russell Mia, a vendor at Gausia Market, said, "Sales have been a little slower in the past couple of days. But before that, we had good sales. Though not a lot, it's still more than last year."

Farzana Akter, a customer shopping at Gausia Market, said, "This year's budget is a bit tight. I'm trying to buy everything for the kids within my budget."

Kashemul Islam sells shirts and pants on the streets of Gulistan. He has also stocked Punjabi sets for Eid. He told Bonik Barta, "I've made good sales every day. I hope the clothes still unsold in the shop will be sold before Eid."