A selected number of Aarong outlets are scheduled to reopen on Sunday (10 May), following the approval by the government for shops and markets to resume business after a shutdown lasting for one and a half months.
The outlets will run business from 10am to 4pm, while ensuring additional safety measures, besides undertaking all possible preventive actions for both the customers and staff.
To reduce health risk and ensure social distancing Aarong has also, for the first time in Bangladesh, introduced an online booking system for customers who want to visit a shopping outlet.
They can book their time slot at aarong.com and visit the outlet at their scheduled time for safe and comfortable shopping.
Tamara Hasan Abed, Managing Director, BRAC Enterprises, said in this regard, "Poverty alleviation and women's employment are aims of Aarong. Livelihoods of more than 65 thousand artisans and women entrepreneurs are involved with us.
Considering their livelihoods we have taken this decision to reopen our outlets following the government approval and ensuring all possible health safety measures."
"Aarong is a collaborative effort of the people of Bangladesh. It is not a privately owned organisation. Aarong's profits are spent for the welfare of the disadvantaged people.
Half of our profits is spent for Aarong's expansion and development and the other half is spent in implementing BRAC's development programmes. BRAC draws a portion of its budget from Aarong's profit to implement its development programmes including poverty alleviation," she further said.
Of its 21 outlets, two situated in Narayanganj city and Bashabo area of Dhaka city will remain closed as these two areas are considered as hotspots for COVID-19 spread. Besides these, Aarong outlets that are part of a shopping mall or market will also remain closed if the market authority or other relevant authorities take a decision not to reopen.
As a part of the decisions, Aarong outlets at Jamuna Future Park, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Cumilla and Sylhet outlets will remain closed.
The Aarong authority made these announcements at a digital press conference on Saturday (9 May) organised on its dedicated facebook page. Customers may watch the press conference at Aarong facebook page.
They said all possible measures have been taken in all these outlets to ensure an adequately safe environment for both its customers and staff. The staff has been especially trained on the safety measures against corona infection.
They will be given masks and gloves to wear during their working hours. Aarong will also provide transport to pick and drop all its staff so that they do not need to use public transports.
Reiterating Aarong's highest priority to ensure a safe shopping environment for its customers and staff during this period, Mohammad Ashraful Alam, Chief Operating Officer of Aarong, said, "we are very much committed to strictly implement all the health and safety measures at each of these outlets, including the social distancing protocol."
As part of its prevention measure against COVID-19, Aarong will not allow trials of clothing and customers will not be able to exchange any product once they buy it until the situation normalises. Once the situation becomes normal, counting of 30 days will start as stipulated in Aarong's 'Product exchange policy' and customers will be able to exchange products.
