A large number of people were seen at shopping centres and markets in Gulistan, Bangabazar, Chawkbazar, New Market, Elephant Road, Baitul Mokarram Mosque area, Mouchak and Bashundhara shopping complex.
Makeshift shops on footpaths are doing brisk sales.
Traders said buyers are more interested in sweaters, jackets and shawls that have hit the stands recently. Anis Hawlader, a salesman in Bangabazar, said they usually get good response from customers during chilly days.
“The price of each blanket increased by Tk 20-100 thanks to the cold weather,” he said.
Anis said they are now selling a local blanket at Tk 90-500 and imported one at Tk 450 to Tk 4,000. “We’ll keep selling the items until February,” he added.
Ariful Islam, a trader from New Market, said business is brisk because of several days of severe cold. “Our sale has been good in the last four days. We hope to sell warm clothes for another two months,” he added.
Jatrabari resident Hasan Mia said he bought clothes for himself and his children from the market. “I bought these because of severe cold. We don’t know when the weather will improve,” he added.
The demand for winter cosmetics items such as petroleum jelly, moisturiser cream, lotion, lip balm and glycerin has also gone up.
Jasim Uddin, general secretary of Polwel Super Market (an imported apparel business hub of the country), said they were selling only imported high-end clothes.
“The sales increase if there’s severe cold. Our sales have been great in the last several days because of the cold wave. It’ll increase further if the cold persists,” he added.