Shoemakers busy ahead of Eid at Charghat

RAJSHAHI, June 24: As Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of the Muslims, is knocking at the door, shoemakers here at Kaluhati village in Charghat upazila are busy making fashionable footwear.
Now they are serving customers' orders for various types of  shoe taken earlier. This year they have to sell shoes at a bit higher prices as prices of raw materials used for making footwear have increased this time compared to previous years', said factory owners.
While talking to The Daily Observer, Sohel Rana, general secretary of Kaluhati Paduka Samobai Samity and owner of Konika Shoe said that their sales have been doubled since the 15th of Ramadan. Customers in a good number rush to their footwear shops as they sell good quality of shoes at lower prices than various branded shops in markets.
For this reason, they are doing bumper business on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr. But the prices of sandals are little higher this year as the prices of raw materials have increased, he also said.
Now the workers of his factory have to work from 10am to 10pm without any break and even till midnight to meet the Eid demand, he added.
Some shoemakers said that they can earn Tk 600 to 1,000 for making a dozen of shoes.
"This is the peak season for us to earn some extra money, so we don't mind working extra time," they added.
President of Kaluhati Paduka Samobai Samity Abdul Mannan said that various qualities of shoes are made at different factories here. Each pair of shoes is selling for between Tk150-Tk 800 depending on qualities and models.
As the customers can avail the same quality of shoes like other popular brands in markets from here, the rush of buyers is immense here ahead of Eid, he added.
Rubina Khatun, a customer, said that she came here as she can get her sandal prepared by shoemakers following her own design at a reasonable price.