With the lockdown lifted, malls and market places seem crowded with people looking towards the festive events of the Eid-ul Azha. However, traders are still disappointed and believe that no significant business could be done during this short break.
From the 14th of the current month, the lockdown has been relaxed in order to serve the commercial and festive benefits of the Eid-ul-Azha. However, it has already been declared that the country would go into full lockdown again on the 23rd marking the end of the Eid celebrations.
During this break of six days, all activities in the country have resumed. Malls and all sorts of trades opened and city-dwellers were seen crowding the market places in festive moods.
Akramul Islam, a fashion store owner in the Noorjahan Market of the capital told Bangladesh Post that there was nothing satisfactory in this break.
“We cannot do any significant business during these 6 days. Customers are there but we have already suffered immensely and will continue to face the adverse situation after the 23rd”, he said.
Other shopowners of the market shared their opinions that they were expecting to do some business from the beginning of the month till the Eid. However, this expectation was flushed when the nationwide lockdown was declared again.
Talking to this correspondent, Maksud Ali, owner of a children clothing shop, said that their business was entirely ruined again in 2021.
“We had faced the same difficulties during the Ramadan and the Eid-ul-fitr, and now we are experiencing the same adverse situation. Both our Eids are ruined and we have nothing more to look forward this year. There is crowd but the business during the period of six days will not give us anything significant enough.”
Although the lockdown is lifted, everyone has been advised and urged to comply with the hygiene protocols and wear mask all times outside their homes. However, the malls and markets portray a negative scenario.
Having visited the capital’s New Market, this correspondent found flocks of people surfing through the large premises without masks on their faces. A certain number of people with masks were seen wearing it in an improper manner or below the noses and chins.
“We know that there will be a fresh lockdown again next week so there is a lot of work to be done before that. We have masks and we maintain social distancing during our stay in the market”, told a city-dweller to this correspondent.
Shop-keepers in the market have been seen maintaining distance and wearing masks in their shops and urged the customers as well. However, that is limited inside the shops.
“There is no business at the moment but we cannot do anything but remain hopeful for the days we are open. We are helpless. I feel things are going to get even worse for us even after the Eid”, said a toy-store owner in New Market.
Other traders also expressed their disappointment regarding their respective businesses and said that the six-day break from lockdown is less than a ray of hope.