The Muslim community usually spends on a lot of gifts, giveaways and clothes on the eve of the festival that triggers sales in the later part of Ramadan 

A saleswoman charging bills with a credit card at a city shop. The card vendors offer lucrative disounts on payments if Eid shoppers use the plastic money.

With Eid taking place next week, the sales outlets from clothing to electronics are in race to lure shoppers by offering heavy discounts.

Some banks and financial institutions, including City Bank, Eastern Bank Ltd and bKash, joined in this race too by offering cashless buying with discounts from their specified shops.

Besides, various clothing and jewelry outlets, electronic goods outlets also offer considerable discounts on top brand of products like Singer, Samsung and Nokia.

The Muslim community usually spends on a lot of gifts, giveaways and clothes on the eve of the festival that triggers sales in the later part of Ramadan.

More and more outlets and stores are putting up exclusive promotions to catch up with Eid shoppers, according to sellers.

Eid shoppers pick up a bargain in the capital's malls and stores as most outlets are offering discounts ranging from 10% to 100%, while others retained their old prices.

However, shop managers said the discounts did not cover their new collections.

Raihan, a 28-year-old store manager, said it was normal to have discounts in the run-up to the Eid.

“We started our sales a few days ago. It’s a long holiday season and we are trying to give people the chance to shop before Eid."

Mohammd Faruqe, a seller at a top brand outlet, said: “It's normal this time of the year to give discounts. We hope it will encourage people to shop more.”

Shoppers, on the other hand, thought some of the shops though advertising sales did not have any goods on discount.

Saima Farzana, 21 from Khilgaon came at a city shopping mall, said she saw some shops saying they were having a sale with discounts. "But in fact there was no sale."

"I went inside a shop that had a 60% discount sticker on the window to find one of the workers telling me the sale already ended weeks ago.”

She said: "I think it's a way to lure customers. It cannot be acceptable to the people."

Sadman Sakib, 23, student of a private university, said the shops those offer holiday discounts only applicable for old stocks only. “Most of the places having discount offers, don't give you discounts on their new collection of clothes,” he said.

"I know these shops offer discounts on last season's stock to get rid of it. But if you search hard enough you will find a good buy."