Last-minute Eid shopping has gathered pace across the capital, driving a surge in demand for attar, prayer caps, prayer mats and tasbih, with brisk sales in the final days of Ramadan accompanied by noticeable price hikes.Visiting the Baitul Mukarram Mosque Market and the surrounding areas in Gulistan today, this correspondent found a festive buzz, as both permanent and makeshift stalls drew large crowds.
The ground floor of the market hosts the highest concentration of attar and prayer cap shops, displaying a wide assortment of fragrances and other prayer essentials.Separate outlets are also selling attar containers, surma, panjabis and tasbih.Traders say interest in attar has grown significantly in recent years. Locally produced attars are being sold for as little as Tk 100 and as much as Tk 80,000, depending on quality and concentration. Most customers, however, are gravitating towards mid-range options priced between Tk 150 and Tk 200.
“The demand for attar has increased sharply, especially towards the end of Ramadan,” said Rahat Hossain, a trader at the market.”Although high-end products are available, most buyers prefer affordable options.”Popular fragrances currently on sale include jasmine, tuberose, Arabian jasmine, chocolate musk, “Jannatul Ferdous”, Royal, Orange, Soft, Lord Nivea Men, Al Faris Best and Hajr-e-Aswad, typically priced between Tk 100 and Tk 150 per millilitre.
Mohammad Yusuf, owner of Yusuf Attar House, said business has improved compared to last year.We even have a 100ml bottle priced at Tk 80,000, locally produced under the name ‘Oud’. But naturally, mid-range attars are selling more,” he said.
Outside the main gate, temporary vendors are also reporting strong sales. Mohammad Manik, a roadside seller, said smaller bottles of fragrances such as Royal, Kadam and Ferrari are selling for Tk 100 to Tk 120.
Imported caps dominate market
Prayer caps imported from Pakistan and China dominate the market, largely due to their affordability and varied designs, with prices ranging from Tk 150 to Tk 350. Indian caps also continue to see steady demand.
During a visit yesterday, this correspondent observed a diverse mix of shoppers, including women and children, purchasing attar, caps and prayer mats. Traders said that, alongside locally made products, caps from Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Malaysia are widely available, with prices varying based on material and design from Tk 50 to Tk 10,000.Handmade caps are selling for Tk 150 to Tk 200. Among imported varieties, Chinese “Wani” caps are priced around Tk 650, Indian Gujarati caps between Tk 250 and Tk 300, “Sidni” caps at Tk 400, and “Pathan” caps at Tk 450. Caps with beadwork and golden embroidery are priced between Tk 400 and Tk 1,000. Basic net caps from China are available for Tk 150, while Turkish caps are selling for Tk 50 to Tk 100.
Prayer mats are also witnessing strong demand, with options made of cotton, velvet, silicone and wool. Sourced from countries including Pakistan, Kashmir, Belgium, China, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, prices range from Tk 150 to Tk 5,000.Rajab Ali, owner of a prayer cap shop at the market, said price trends have shifted over time. “Earlier, prayer caps priced at Tk 20 were most popular. Now, due to rising costs, caps in the Tk 80 to Tk 100 range are selling more,” he said.
Tasbih made from wood, plastic, pearls, stones, ivory, deer antlers and crystal are also widely available, with bead counts ranging from 25 to 500. Digital tasbih counters are gaining popularity, with prices ranging from Tk 50 to Tk 10,000.
