Jaljamat' puja bazaar is going on in Newmarket

Whether it's a festival or any event, Dhaka's New Market is one of the favorite places for shopping from the lower class to the upper middle class of the capital. Durga Puja is the biggest religious festival of Sanatan religionists after a few days. On this occasion, where the vendors are supposed to be smiling, there is a look of sadness on their faces. Not only them but also the customers were noticed with the impression of discomfort. Why not? Newmarket, has flooded with the arrival of incessant rainfall. Not only Newmarket, but all the surrounding areas are full of water. Although the number of buyers was not as expected, the presence was felt. In such a situation, the 'Jaljamat' puja bazaar is going on in Newmarket - is it too much to say?

On Saturday (October 5) on the ground, such scenes were seen around Newmarket and surrounding areas.

Due to continuous rain since morning, water has accumulated in the shops along with the road. The sidewalk shops were not left out. Ignoring the rain, Sanatan devotees are spending a busy time in puja shopping under umbrellas.

But on the one hand, the buyers are expressing their dissatisfaction with the price and on the other hand, the sellers are giving the excuse of rain.

Student Anamika Tandra Saha and her sister Sagarika Samriddhi Saha came to Gausia Market to shop for Puja. Anamika said, Durga Puja is our biggest religious event. I think I can shop with ease. But now shopping has to be done with discomfort in the rain.

Flooding is everywhere you look. A gentleman was seen entering the shop with his pants up. I came to know that his name is Manranjan Mandal. He said, they cannot afford to buy from places like Bashundhara, Gulshan or Banani. So I ignored the rain and came to Newmarket with my family.

As the pavement shops are not able to sit, the pavement shopkeepers including low income people are reporting the plight.

Tanveer, a small businessman, said that he could not get the puja market because of this rain. We are counting losses one by one. Our daily income is daily expenditure. If it happens, you will die without eating.

Some buyers are reporting dissatisfaction with the price. Kalpana Rani Roy said that each yard of cloth is asking 20/30 more. Festivals really do increase prices. Now seeing if it will be needed, the price is not reducing.

Meanwhile, the sellers deny the charges of charging high prices and give excuses on hostile weather, water logging and the recent situation in the country. Puja was hoped for good sales but it is not happening.