Thousands of employees in the retail sector are at the risk of losing their jobs if shops do not reopen before Eid.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has already estimated that almost 25 million jobs could be in jeopardy worldwide as a result of Covid-19. Bangladesh will be one of the affected countries as estimated.
Small companies with 5 to 15 employees are likely to suffer more than others in the private sector because they are inherently vulnerable, as per a report in UNB.
Halaluddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, an association of shop owners, told the aforementioned agency that they have no access to the Tk 727.50 billion stimulus package declared by the government, though they shut down their enterprises from March 25 as per direction.
"The income of small, wholesale business people has totally stopped. As a result, over 10 million are unemployed and passing hard times. If the partial lockdown goes on, many shops will vanish," he said
He also said that the sector has already lost income to the tune of Tk 50 to 60 billion.
"The amount of investment in the sector during Ramadan and ahead of Eid Ul Fitr is TK 200- 220 billion. If the shops don’t open as soon as possible, the sector and employees who depend on this sector will really face the dire situation, " he added.
He believes it will be a wise decision to open the shops across the country maintaining proper health guidelines.
Halaluddin requested the government to consider their demand in the national interest, as the garment sectors and biggest wholesale market of Narsingdi have been opened.
President of Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners Association Arifur Rahman Tipu also raised the same demand to open their shops in a limited range. He said they will ensure the maintenance of the health guidelines including social distance during the shopping time.