With winter heralding its arrival, the increasing demand for blankets is a common scenario.

Like elsewhere in the country, the port city markets are abuzz with shoppers buying blankets as per their budget to keep themselves warm as chill started to grip the southern region.

But this time, the demand almost doubled as many are buying blankets in bulk for distributing those among the displaced Myanmar nationals who took shelter in Bangladesh.

While visiting the Zahur Hawkers' Market, a wholesale market for winter clothes in New Market area, on Friday, traders were seen busy stockpiling various quilts to meet the demand.

“I got around 15 orders in a span of two weeks. I have to supply at least 50,000 blankets,” said Md Salauddin, a shop owner.

“Many are also buying the locally-made cheaper ones in bulk for distributing those among the Rohingyas,” he added.

The traders said many of the non-government organisations are placing orders with them. The demand may soar further, they added.

Md Mohsin, a blanket trader, said they import quilts from different countries. “Our consignment just arrived. We might have to order more to keep up with the demand.”

Nazmul Haque, another shop owner, echoed him.

Depending on quality, the blankets are being sold between Tk 200 and Tk 8,000.

Executive Magistrate Syed Murad Ali, in-charge of district administration control room in Cox's Bazar, said individuals and organisations from Chittagong and elsewhere are visiting the camps in Cox's Bazar to hand out blankets among the Rohingyas.

“We have already started distributing those and will continue the process,” he added.

More than six lakh Rohingyas have taken refuge in Bangladesh since the Myanmar military launched a brutal crackdown on the Rohingyas in Rakhine on August 25.