CHATTOGRAM: With a fresh one-week nationwide lockdown being enforced from today to control the new Covid-19 wave in the country, traders in Chattogram fear a huge loss of their business, especially during the upcoming festivals like Bangla New Year and Eid-ul-Fitr.
Therefore, the businessmen and shop owners of the port city don't want the fresh spell of lockdown.
Rather, they stressed that the government enforce strict health rules and keep all the markets open before and during the Ramadan - the holy month of fasting which is followed by one of the biggest celebrations of the Muslims, Eid-ul-Fitr.
The new lockdown will severely hamper trade and business in the port city, especially the small traders and shop owners, they added.
Mohammed Sagar, president of the Chattogram New Market Merchant Welfare Association, said, "We are against the fresh lockdown. The lockdown last year made us losers."
"We urged the government to keep all shops open by enforcing strict health rules," he added.
Fazlul Amin, organising secretary of the Jahur Hawkers Market Merchant Association, said they expected that they would be able to recover last year's losses this year.
"But the new lockdown from Monday will simply make us beggars," he added.
While talking to the FE, shop owners of the city's Reazuddin Bazar market echoed the same.
The authorities of the port city's Sanmar Ocean City Merchant Association and Finlay Market Merchant Association said both the shopping malls were already experiencing a lack of customers due to the pandemic.
If the fresh spell of lockdown continues for a long time, it will be the last nail in the coffin, they added.
Sayed Khurshid Alam, general secretary of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, Chattogram district, said, "If the fresh lockdown continues for a long time like the last year's, the businessmen will not be able to run their business activities in the upcoming Eid."
Contacted, Mahabubul Alam, president of the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the coronavirus pandemic had been taking toll on the trade and business since last year.
Not only the big businessmen, but also the small traders including shop owners are incurring a huge loss due to the pandemic, he added.
