Mohsin Karim, the manager-in-charge of Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, has resigned following intense protests by traders for three days.
The resignation, announced on Wednesday afternoon, was met with joy by the agitating businessmen, though they continue to press for their 12-point demands, including reduced shop rent.
The protests began early in the morning, with traders and shopkeepers blocking roads around Panthpath and Karwan Bazar in the capital. This caused severe traffic congestion in the area. However, traffic began to normalise once the resignation was confirmed and protestors started clearing the roads.
The traders had been unhappy with how mobile shops were relocated to the mall’s basement without proper permissions. They complained of difficulties in obtaining licences and alleged that Mohsin Karim had threatened them with shop closures in response to their grievances.
Khadimul Hasan, a businessman, reported that while the expected rent for a shop should be around 60,000 taka, they are currently paying 8 lakh taka. This led to their strike, as previous complaints had been ignored.
Tariqul Hasan, another trader, emphasised that although Mohsin Karim’s resignation was a step forward, their movement would persist until all 12 demands are addressed.
The protests led to blockades at key intersections, including Kawran Bazar, causing heavy traffic jams on roads such as Shahbagh, Farmgate, Science Lab, and Mirpur Road. Passengers were seen walking to their destinations due to the roadblocks.
