Sumon Mustafa ; DHAKA- Despite the stifling summer heat causing discomfort across the capital, a massive wave of shoppers is flooding the sidewalk stalls of Gulistan. While Eid-ul-Adha shopping is in full swing on one hand, football enthusiasts are overcrowding shops on the other.
The craze for the upcoming Football World Cup has carved out its own vibrant space across Gulistan’s footpaths. Shops filled with yellow-green, blue-white, and red jerseys, along with flags and footballs, are seeing a heavy rush as Eid joy blends seamlessly with World Cup passion.
A visit to Gulistan, one of the capital’s busiest commercial hubs, on Saturday revealed a massive crowd at temporary jersey and flag stalls alongside traditional Eid clothing stores. Defying the scorching sun and heat, buyers were seen stopping by, bargaining, and picking up the jerseys of their favorite teams.
Row after row of jerseys from countries like Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, and England lined the pavements. Large and small flags hung in clusters, while showrooms displayed brand-new footballs. Sellers were heard calling out, “Brother, new World Cup jerseys! Get them at a low price!”
Mohammad Yasin, a sidewalk vendor, shared that many people coming for Eid shopping are also buying jerseys on the side. Since prices are relatively low right now, buyer interest is remarkably high.
“The World Cup fever will skyrocket after Eid. Demand and prices will both go up then. Right now, people are bargaining for jerseys alongside Eid clothes. Many are buying them for younger brothers or friends before heading to their village homes for the holidays,” Yasin added.
The scene was no different inside the established sports showrooms beyond the sidewalks. At Bangladesh Sports Showroom, staff were busy arranging new jerseys, footballs, and flags. Rows of colorful international jerseys immediately catch the eye upon entering.
Siddiqur Rahman, who has been working at the showroom for decades, said, “Business comes alive in a completely different way whenever the football or cricket World Cup arrives. I’ve worked here for so many years, but people’s love for the game hasn’t changed. Eras have shifted, generations have changed, but the World Cup craze remains identical. It is undeniable that a unique emotion works within our people during the Football World Cup.”
Mozammel, a young sales representative at the same showroom, noted that many customers prefer showrooms over footpaths for better fabric and stitching quality. “People don’t just buy them for the tournament; they want to wear them comfortably while watching the matches. That’s why they look for durable, high-quality fabric and come to showrooms,” he said.
On-site observations showed that sidewalk jerseys are selling between 200 to 500 BDT depending on size and quality. On the other hand, showroom jersey prices range from 500 to 1,200 BDT.
Alongside jerseys, flag stalls have also begun popping up across Gulistan. Flags of various nations are hung from large bamboo poles on the roadsides—ranging from small hand flags to massive banner-sized ones.
Harun, a flag seller, mentioned, “Business hasn’t fully peaked yet; the real sales will kick off after Eid.” He added that they are currently selling flags up to 13 feet in size, with custom orders being taken for even larger ones. Flag prices vary by material—satin flags start at 200 BDT, while standard cotton (“Bangla cloth”) flags are available for 150 BDT, with premium ones going up to 1,000 BDT.
Conversations with buyers revealed that while most came to Gulistan for Eid shopping, they couldn’t resist when they spotted their favorite team’s colors. Saiful Suman, a young shopper who came to buy a pair of pants, ended up leaving with a Germany jersey. Laughing, he said, “I came for Eid clothes, but seeing the Germany jersey, I just couldn’t help myself.”