Many small traders try out sales of items such as tupees (caps), ator (perfumes), jainamaz (prayer mat), Tasbihs (beads), surma (powder for eyes), meswak (wooden toothbrush) around mosques and other religious gatherings.

Prices of these items are at its peak. Products are flown in or imported from countries like Turkey, Pakistan, UAE, Japan to name a few.

The sale of these items, has as a practice, always been very high during this period. The significance is connected to history of Islam.

Devotees in the city spend as much time as possible in religious activities during this month. Fasting, praying five times a day, giving alms to the poor, joining in Tarabih (the special Ramadan prayer), in mosques in the evenings are some ways they involve themselves in these activities.

In the process the devotees purchase many new items around this time. They also buy punjabi-pajama ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Merchants of Baitul Mukarram have brought in items of exquisite taste for those who would buy them devoid of the price.

"Mussulis (pious Muslims) are our regular customers and we tend to make the most of our profit during Ramadan. Our business booms in the penultimate fortnight of Eid-ul-Fitr," said Shaikur Rahman, a shopowner.

Near the Kawran Bazar mosque, 'seasonal' peddlers have sprung up to sell these religious items with these Mussulis as prospective customers. Similar makeshift shops can be seen in Lalbagh, Islampur and other areas in Old Dhaka.

Some items have fixed prices but others such as, the Turkish jainamaz, the Rumi tupee from Turkey range from Tk 1,200 to Tk 3,500 while the ator from Makkah Tareq goes at Tk 10,000 per ounce.

Ator, the scent that was a favourite of the holy prophet (SM), are being brought into the city from France, Switzerland, Dubai and Cambodia. Of these, The Agar Ator from Cambodia is the most expensive with a price of Tk 12,000 per ounce.

Tupee, a traditional practice for prayers is also being sold from Tk 50 to Tk 500. Some of them come from Pakistan, China, UAE, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

Tasbihs, required for zikr (invocatory prayer) are priced from Tk 25 to Tk 3,500. The highest price is of the 'tiger eye' Tasbih. There are tasbihs made of mahogany, leopard skin, snow flag, moonstone, radium, sandalwood and such materials.

A Jainamaz, is priced from Tk 200 to Tk 1,200. For women, Burkhas (veils) are priced from Tk. 300 to Tk 1,800.

"Most of the shops, that are here now, are here to make the maximum profit during the Ramadan as they know that their items would sell fast now." said Zahir, an employee of such a shop at Kawran Bazar.