Shopping Down the Memory Lane

Photos: Mizan Rahman

As soon as the Eid bonus hits our pockets, we Bangalis tend to go head over heels about new panjabis, kamizes and all sorts of things. To cater to this population, Dhaka, much like any other big city, offers over hundreds of shopping malls. There are so many options in terms of clothing that one can easily get confused on whether to go for a basic Yellow Panjabi or try out a more authentic desi look from Deshal. However, there are some places where we almost put up a fight to go to when it comes to shopping – forever etched in the Dhakaite's heart.

Considered to be a living legend among shopping places, New Market tops the list even today. Back in the day, New Market was the place to be if you wanted first-class tailors to make your clothes. Especially during the Eid season, tailors would struggle to meet deadlines, as orders would flow in. Though there are a lot of tailor shops scattered all over the city, New Market still holds popularity among the masses. It's still very popular for cheap ornaments, belts, bags, and last but not least, watches.

Right next to New Market, sits the iconic – Gausia Market. Yes, it is crowded to a point were sometimes it gets difficult to breathe! Fabrics of all kind, colours and quality, starting from ladies wear to suits for the gents – Gausia has it all.

Whenever it comes to men's shopping, Polwel Super Market is one of the first places that come to mind. This place has been famous for affordable t-shirts and pants for years. Located in Naya Paltan, Polwel has been catering to a huge crowd of shoppers during Eid. Not only dose it have vast options in clothing, the place is also best to shop for the children. If children want the new comic book tee shirts for Eid – this is the place to go to!

Though Mouchak Market has come into the lights of controversy, this shopping ground still remains packed.  This poorly maintained Super Market is a favourite in terms of ornaments. Surrounding the market are little foot path stores where one can buy belts, watches, pants, shirts and even sarees.  The supermarket also hosts one of the first arcade restaurants in Dhaka-Meridian.

When talking about the old school shopping malls, one cannot forget the famous Eastern Plaza. Once considered as the mini Dubai of Dhaka, Easten Plaza still is a crowd favourite. Though over the years it has been transformed into a popular hubs for mobile servicing, this was once the place where families would visit once during the festivals. A major element of this mall was its CD shops. From games and softwares to music and movies, Eastern Plaza used to offer it all. The first escalator in Dhaka was installed in Eastern Plaza. All in all, Eastern Plaza was yet another tourist spot for people from outside the city.

There are many more options today, when it comes to comfortable shopping with a variety of choices. However, Eid or any other major festival in Dhaka is unimaginable without the names mentioned above, which will remain as important segments from our childhood days!