Some shopping malls, markets reopen in city

The majority of the shopping malls and markets in the capital city did not reopen on Sunday although the government gave them permission for resuming their business before Eid-ul-Fitr, subject to some conditions.

However, some well-known fashion and lifestyle brands and roadside boutique shops in different parts of the city reopened on the day, but saw a small number of shoppers.

The management of more than 90 per cent of the shopping malls, after talking with the stakeholders and considering the current coronavirus situation, decided not to open markets before Eid, insiders said.

The authority announced the date for reopening of markets at a time when Bangladesh reported the highest number of Covid-19 patients in a single day with 887 new cases on the day, taking the total number of infected people to 14,657.

At least 14 people also died of coronavirus in last 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 228 in the country, according to Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity (shop owners association) chairman Md Helal Uddin told the FE that about 90 per cent of the shopping centres across the country may remain shut until Eid.

Large shopping malls like Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, Jamuna Future Park, Eastern Plaza, Eastern Mallika, Karnaphuli Garden City, Rapa Plaza, Mouchak Market, Rajdhani Super Market etc were closed on the day, he mentioned.

He said, "Despite permission from the government, many shop owners may not be able to reopen their business due to the decision of the market committees, but some shops in residential areas will reopen."

During random visit to different city areas, the FE correspondent observed that the majority of the markets in between Science Lab and Nilkhet crossing on Mirpur Road including New Market, Gausia, Chandni Chawk, Nurjahan Super Market, Dhanmondi Hawkers' Market etc remained closed.

On May 04, the government issued a gazette notification, allowing all markets, shops and shopping malls across the country to remain open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm every day from Sunday.

The permission was given on the condition of maintaining health guidelines and arranging hand-washing facility at entrances of shopping malls.

Meanwhile, president of Bangladesh Dress Makers' Association, a platform of tailoring shops, Md Abul Kalam Azad said, "Tailoring shop owners, other than located in shopping malls, can reopen their business of their own."

Many tailoring shops outside big shopping malls may reopen gradually, he said.

Mr Azad also said leaders of the association requested the members to take health safety measures to keep both shoppers and shopkeepers out of virus risk.

Saiful Islam Shaheen, proprietor of Paradise Tailors located at Ramna Bhaban on Bangabandhu Avenue in Gulistan, told the FE that shop owners' association of Ramna Bhaban decided not to reopen the market before Eid.

But another branch of his shop, situated in the city's Mirpur-10, reopened on the day though received no order from customers till Sunday afternoon.

However, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Thursday asked city dwellers to do their Eid shopping from markets located within two kilometres of their respective residences.

Meanwhile, Aarong, a social enterprise of BRAC, opened 14 out of its 21 outlets across the country on the day after taking safety measures to stem the spread of the virus.

Aarong authority at an on-press conference on Saturday said shoppers will require advance online booking at aarong.com for a timeslot at a specific branch before physically visiting it.

Besides, the number of shops at Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) markets at Gulshan-1 and 2, BCS Computer City at IDB Bhaban in Agargaon, Multiplan Center and several shoe stores on Elephant Road, Islampur's wholesale clothing market, Chawk Bazar reopened on the day.

ahb_mcj2009@yahoo.com