Amdadul Haque
Most businessmen across the country have refrained from opening their shops and shopping malls on Sunday fearing further transmission of coronavirus.
However, as soon as some shops and shopping malls were opened, people in large numbers thronged there, causing a serious concern.
Earlier on May 5 they were allowed to keep individual shops and shopping malls open for six hours from 10am to 4pm every day from Sunday, after maintaining health guidelines during the general holidays.
But businessmen in the capital Dhaka, Chattrogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet and other metropolitan cities and most district towns have refrained themselves from keeping their shops and shopping malls opening.
Moving around the city, it has been seen that the presence of people and vehicles on the roads is increasing. Apart from grocery stores, other shops have also started opening. The alleys are pretty much normal. However, large showrooms along the main road were closed. The strictures of law and order have also been reduced a lot.
A large number of people were seen in Mirpur on Sunday noon, Old Dhaka's Shyambazar, Gendaria, Sutrapur, Postagola, Azimpur, Lalbagh area, roads and alleys. Tailors, small fashion houses, salons, groceries shops and other types of shops have opened.
Meanwhile, several markets in the capital, including Bashundhara City Shopping Mall and the Jamuna Future Park, have already decided not to open before Eid. Their decision also prompted the shop owners' association of other markets to continue keeping the market shut. As a result, most of the markets in the country, including the capital, are not opening before Eid.
Only Islampur's clothing market, New super market, and a number of standalone shops at New Elephant Road area have opened before Sunday afternoon amid the coronavirus fears. Many brands like Aarong, Apex and Bata have also reopened some of their outlets in a limited scale.
Meanwhile, presence of public and vehicles on the roads of the capital has increased due to the decision to open the markets. Apart from groceries and raw essential materials, almost all types of shops have started opening in the alleys.
The markets that have decided not to open before Eid are Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Jamuna Future Park, Baitul Mukarram Market, Dhaka New Market, Mouchak, Anarkali Market, Motalib Plaza etc. However, it has been decided to keep open all the shops in Eastern Plaza, Gazi Shopping Complex and the shops in Elephant Road and its adjacent areas.
Many people concerned about the current corona crisis told Bangladesh Post that they will not do Eid shopping this time. A general holiday has been declared from March 26 to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country. Under this, everything except emergency services including raw markets, groceries and drug stores are closed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on last Monday said that a limited number of shops will be opened for Eid shopping in compliance with the hygiene rules. After that, the official instructions were given to open the markets and shopping malls from May 10. According to the directive, markets and shopping malls can be kept open from 10 am to 4 pm in compliance with the health rules.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said on last Thursday that shoppers will be able to shop within the time announced before at shopping malls located within two kilometers of their respective areas.
Asked, Helal Uddin, President of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, told the media, "So far, only one market has been announced to open in Dhaka. That is the New Super Market. That means everything else is closed. I have also talked to the leaders of the market association about this. I requested them to make available all hygiene facilities should they open the markets.”
Talking to Bangladesh Post, several shop owners said that even if New Market is not opened, Gauchia and hawkers market can be opened. However, Shahidul Islam, owner of several shops in hawkers and Gauchia Market, said over phone that there was a possibility of opening the wholesale part of the market at first. But later it was decided to change the decision and keep the market closed till Eid. He also said that there is no possibility of opening shops very soon before Eid.
However, most of the shopping malls and markets in Chattogram city will remain closed also till Eid. Traders decided not to open the shopping malls and markets considering the risk of coronavirus infection despite the government's permission, said Chattogram Shop Owners' Association General Secretary Sayed Khurshid Alam.
“Besides, it is not possible to follow all the directives given by the government, like shopping within two kilometres, radius during rush hours before the Eid,” he added.
However, the shop owners of Riazuddin Bazar and Jahur hawkers’ markets, the biggest business hub in Chattogram, said they were not sure what to do.
CMP Commissioner Mahabubor Rahman said they (market owners) have decided not to open their shops for some time amid the coronavirus threat.