An absolute football frenzy
With the beginning of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Chattogram has entered a festive mood with jerseys and flags taking over the markets and footpaths of the port city.
Tailoring shops are also spending busy times with orders of flags and jerseys pouring over them from fans.
Chattogram's New Market, MA Aziz Stadium Sports markets, Apollo Shopping Centre, Agrabad footpath market and local sports and clothing shops are abuzz with the vibrant presence of football fans of different ages.
During a recent visit to the Kazir Dewri MA Aziz Stadium market, his correspondent saw jerseys of different Fifa World Cup teams occupying every shop.
Sellers said the volume of sales has risen in the last 15-days. Depending on the quality, a jersey is being sold between the range of Tk 300 and 1500.
"Every day, we are selling about 200 to 250 pieces of jersey in different price ranges. Along with Bangladeshi customers, foreigners working in the port city are also buying their favourite ones," said Md Altaf of Green Sports in MA Aziz Stadium.
"We are also selling caps, wristbands, footballs and other sports kits. We have collected the jerseys from local garments and apparel factories in the EPZs and Dhaka," he added.
Md Sajjad, a worker of Players Sports, said, "From premium quality to local, we have every kind of jersey as customers want the best-fitted jersey at an affordable price. The sales are great."
However, customers are complaining about the prices being high.
"Sellers are very aware of the emotion of football fans and they are cashing in on the issue," said Kazi Munjurul Hoque, a customer.
Debabrata Roy Debu, a fan of the German team, said "To avoid the hassle, I have collected a premium replica jersey of the German team from an online shop."
Sellers in New Market area said the price of jerseys varies upon the measurement of the fabric's weight. Local sellers use to make a profit of Tk 200 to 300 for each jersey depending on its quality.
Rashed Nabi, who sells flags on the streets, said a three-feet flag of Argentina can cost Tk 500 to 600 depending on its fabric quality.
Md Abu Khalifa, owner of 'Pataka Bitan' in Kotwali, said, "Fans are mainly going crazy over the flags of Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Italy. We sell flags at a wholesale price depending on their size."
"So far, thousands of Argentinian and Brazilian flags have been sold before the opening of the greatest show on earth," he said.
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