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‘Eid shopping’ carries grave risk


Bangladeshpost
Published : 20 May 2020 09:52 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 07:19 PM

Amdadul Haque

People are gathering at the shopping malls for ‘Eid Shopping’ in large numbers across the country ignoring the risk of coronavirus infection and requests of health experts to stay at home.

Most of the people are not following hygiene and social distance rules to curb coronavirus infection, raising fear that coronavirus situation could take a terrible turn.

Due to Eid festival there is much crowd in the markets and shopping malls and the situation is not under control amid the pandemic. Most of the markets are found breaching health safety directives issued by the government.

Overcrowding is blocking spaces in the markets as it is difficult to convince buyers to maintain safe distance.
Without keeping physical distance, everyone is gathering boundlessly in the open markets. Everyone's goal is to shop on the occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-fitr. More crowds are seen in clothing and mobile phone stores.

According to sources, crowd of people in the market-shopping malls across the country is gradually increasing. Several guidelines were issued for shops, including the installation of disinfection tunnels and thermal scanners, mandatory wearing of masks and gloves by both sellers and buyers, and maintaining of social distancing at all times. None of these guidelines are followed by the people there.

Though hand washing has been arranged at the entrance of many markets, the arrangement is inadequate compared to humans gathering. There is an order of maintaining a three-feet distance to prevent coronavirus infection, but no shopkeeper or buyer is complying.

The sellers said that they have opened the shops due to their economic crisis. Their businesses have remained closed for a long time and have suffered huge losses. It will be possible to reduce the amount of losses if the business can continue in this occasion of Eid.

Rubel Ahmed, a clothes trader from Sylhet, told The Bangladesh Post that arrangements have been made to wash hands with soap, measure temperature and spray disinfectant before entering shopping malls. Mikes are also being used to maintain social distancing by the buyers. But after entering the markets, the buyers are not keeping social distancing.

Moving around the capital’s Chawkbazar area, most of the businesses are operating by keeping the shutters half open. As soon as the people of the administration come, traders pull the shutters down.

Bithi Rani, who came for Eid shopping, said, “I have come to shop before Eid. But no one is following the hygiene rules. Many do not even wear a mask. Sellers should ensure facilities for hand wash or disinfection for customers before entering stores, but it is not seen anywhere.”

A trader from Chittagong, preferring anonymity, told The Bangladesh Post that, “It is not possible to do business according to hygiene rules because buyers are unaware. Many do not even wear masks.”

Tamim, an employee of Jatrabari Taj Super Market told The Bangladesh Post that no one is allowed to enter the markets except masks and gloves. The temperature is also being measured. Trading is going on in the market while maintaining social distancing.

Eid shoppers were seen busy buying new clothes at super markets and the footpaths in front of the markets.
Bangladesh Shop Owners Association (BSOA) President Helal Uddin Aziz said super markets in Shahabagh, Palwal Market in old Paltan, markets in Gulistan, Bangabazar and Mirpur areas will remain closed until Eid.

Preventive medicine specialist Dr Lelin Chowdhury told The Bangladesh Post, that “One of the few steps to prevent covid-19 is to maintain social distancing. The government extended the general holidays to curb the spread of coronavirus. It is not possible to stop crowds without enforcing the law strictly. We need to reduce the risk of this infection by enforcing the laws. Otherwise, difficult times are waiting for us in the future.”

Meanwhile, a number of large shopping malls in the capital have decided not to open their business outlets this Eid. The authorities of Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, Jamuna Future Park, Dhaka's busiest New Market, Mouchak, Anarkoli markets decided not to reopen their markets. All these spectacles have made the authorities and the worried segments of society feel upbeat about a semblance of success in the containment of the virus.

Uttara Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Nabid Kamal Shaibal said, “Market and shopping mall authorities need to ensure safe distances to avoid coronavirus risks. The mobile court is trying to ensure social distancing by visiting shopping malls.”

He said they visited shopping malls and issued warnings to those who are not following government-imposed health guidelines.
He said, “If they can do business according to the rules and regulations, they can continue it; otherwise they will have to close down their shops. Uttara Division police have set up check posts in Ashulia, Abdullapur and Airport areas.”

According to the records of the government’s Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), 57 per cent of the coronavirus cases are in Dhaka city. From the very outset, the rate of infection has been highest in Dhaka. The relaxation of the lockdown, and the opening of shops from 10 am till 4pm, social distancing rules have been flouted in the city. The markets are crowded and traffic jams have reemerged on the roads.

Meanwhile, the general holidays were extended until May 30, the government allowed businesspeople to keep shopping malls and markets open “on a limited scale” by maintaining hygiene and proper physical distancing.

Public health experts feel that unless strict measures are taken, crowds will increase further on the roads and in the markets. This will increase the risk of the virus transmission. They stressed the need for adopting stringent cautionary measures.

However, as coronavirus cases started surging across the country, administrations in some districts decided to keep shopping malls shut until Eid.