CHATTOGRAM: Supermarkets, shopping centres and shops reopened in the port city on Sunday, three weeks after remaining shut due to a series of nationwide lockdown clamped by the government to check the coronavirus spread.
Visiting some markets and shopping centres of the city in the afternoon, this correspondent found a thin presence of people in shops and malls amid the scorching heat of summer. However, they came to the shops and malls following the health rules, wearing masks with many of them, particularly female customers, wearing gloves.
Talking with the FE, the shop and market owners expressed their happiness at reopening of the business establishments, welcoming the government's decision to allow them to restart their business during the remaining part of Ramadan, saying Eid season is the peak time in a year to do business.
Despite reopening the malls and markets, the small traders were not fully satisfied at the presence of a thin number of customers during the peak shopping time in the year.
Small traders and shop employees said the convergence of people was very small. Among the people at the shopping centres and shops, a negligible portion of them were buyers. A big part of the gathering were just visitors who came to the markets and shops just to spend some time there while the rest were onlookers who dropped in to have a look at the shops and the customers.
Among all categories of gatherings, a few people were not maintaining physical distancing rules and other health guidelines.
However, the authorities of the markets and shopping malls conformed to the health directives adopting precautionary measures against the virus infection. Almost all market owners kept disinfectants in large containers or bowls mixed with bleaching powder or germicides at the main entrance of the markets. Hand wash or spray machines containing sanitisers were also arranged by them for use by customers.
Mahbubul Alam, president of Chattogram Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the second wave of the Covid-19 is sweeping the country. Amid the pandemic, all kinds of businesses are facing various types of impediments from the beginning of the year, he said.
"Shops and markets have opened their shutters today. The market owners as well as the traders should be happy at reopening of their respective business establishments. Despite opening of shops, visits by customers are very small as lockdown is still in force," he noted.
"I express my gratitude to the government for considering the request of businessmen to allow market and shop owners do their businesses," he said, adding "I hope that shopping will get momentum ahead of Eid-ul-Fitre very soon and the shoppers continue to properly conform to the guidelines while visiting malls and shops."
Sayed Khurshid Alam, Chattogram chapter general secretary of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, said, "Markets and shops are now open. But, the businessmen could not do their businesses during Eid as the presence of customers is very poor due to fear of the virus infection. I hope the customer will come to the markets and Eid shopping picks up after the third phase of countrywide week-long lockdown ends on April 28."
Fazlul Amin, organising secretary of Jahur Hawkers Market Traders Association, said, "We have opened the markets for the livelihoods of the traders and the employees of malls and shops. But, customers are reluctant to visit the markets amid the lockdown. A few public transports plying the city roads due to the restriction. How can people come to the markets? I request to withdraw the lockdown immediately, implementing compulsory health rules and allow all modes of transport to run in the city streets."
