Clicky
National, Back Page

Malls crowded, but traders disappointed


Published : 13 Apr 2021 09:41 PM | Updated : 13 Apr 2021 11:23 PM

On the last working day before the lockdown, malls were seen filled with city dwellers on Tuesday. 

The crowds were heavier than in the last few days, and it seemed shop owners would enjoy one good day of sales before the scheduled lockdown. However, although there were more people in the malls, most shop owners were still disappointed with the business of the day. 

Shamim Akhter, owner of three shops in Shimanto Square, in the Dhanmondi area of the capital told Bangladesh Post that although there was a greater turnout of people, it was still less than what was expected on the day with Ramadan knocking on the door. 

He further said, “It is true that there was a way bigger crowd today than on the last few days that we were allowed to function. However, we always experience double the people at this time of the year. The pandemic has messed up the business and with the lockdown, there is not much that we can earn during this start of the Ramadan period”.

Other malls portray the same scenario. People entered the malls in groups and returned with numerous bags of commodities. However, business owners remain upset.

Arifur Rahman, owner of wholesale and retail shops in the capital’s Chawk Bazar area told Bangladesh Post that there was low to no wholesale business in the last few days. 

“Markets were allowed to open less than a week ago  and we are already scheduled to shut down. The month of Ramadan is supposed to be a blessing for us and we look upon it as the highest sale period of every year. Due to the pandemic, we lost that opportunity last year, and it seems as if this year will be no different”, he said.

He further told Bangladesh Post that despite the increase of people on the last day before lockdown, it made no significant difference to the retail business as well. 

Some commercial sectors comprising daily wage workers have been allowed to function during the lockdown due to a plea made to the government as it would become a question of survival for the poor workers. 

However, malls and other market places do not share the same fate and are scheduled to strictly shut down from today.