On the first day of relaxed lockdown, hundreds of customers crowded the shops and malls in the capital ignoring health guidelines.
Most of the major shopping malls and markets of the capital including New Market, Chadni Chawk, Gausia Market, Noor Mansion, Chandrima Super Market and Bashundhara City Shopping Mall were overflowing with keen shoppers from Thursday morning.
Many traders and customers were seen without masks. People were seen flouting rules and regulations. Most of them moved freely in the market areas wearing masks under their chin and without maintaining social distance, as the law enforcement check-posts were removed.
Traders are hoping that the number of customers will increase in the next few days.
However, the scenario was different in Mirpur. While visiting various markets in Mirpur, it could be seen that traders were preparing to open shops. Many opened their shops late and many were found passing idle time due to lack of enough customers.
The owner of a shop said that the number of customers is much less than usual.
“Many people are leaving the city due to the lockdown to be reimposed after Eid. Besides, many people do not have enough money to shop as they have been sitting at home for a long time,” he said.
Another salesman of a shop said that it is not possible to recover the losses by reopening shops for such a short period.
“Sales are comparatively low during Eid-ul-Azha and this year people might not want to spend much due to the pandemic”, he added.
