Shafiqul Islam
Retail shops and big shopping malls have reopened across the country on Sunday amid a lockdown to prevent coronavirus infections. These businesses reopened yesterday after being closed for 11 days. However, on the first day, the presence of buyers in the shopping malls of the capital was below the average. Besides the crowds have increased in the streets of capital since yesterday morning. Indifference has also been seen in the observance of hygiene rules. Traffic has increased at Gulistan junction. The crowd on Nawabpur Road in old Dhaka has increased significantly. Shops are also open. It was seen at the Dhaka New Market around 10 am that the shops have started opening. Those who have opened it were found rearranging their storefront. In the meantime, if a buyer comes, some retailers were seen responding the queries.

Billal Hossain, the owner of a shop called Fair Shoes, opened his shop at exactly 10 am. He said, he was observing the Ramadan through fasting and opened the shop. “I don’t know how much business I can do. Because, it’s very hot now. It has to be closed at five in the afternoon. In fact, more people come after Iftar. Even then there may be some selling”, Hossain said. The seller of Moumi Fashion at Chandni chalk said public transportation is off. People who are close, they will come. Distant buyers will not be able to come. If the bus service starts, maybe the sales will increase.

According to the police, buyers and sellers have to take movement pass to go to shopping malls and shops. The shopkeepers of New Market, Chandni Chowk and Gauchia Market said that they did not have to show anything to anyone. The police did not ask anything. Though, they all live nearby. Hasina Begum was walking around Gauchia with a big bag. She said, he will buy clothes and make some dresses this time. So, she left early in the morning to avoid the crowd.

It can be seen in the Bashundhara shopping mall, the gathering of shoppers has not started yet in the morning around 11 am. Raisa fashion store salesman Sabbir said he hopes to have some business even if the store opens in the middle of the holy Ramadan.

Gentle Park showroom manager Tawfiq said that “we are operating our showroom as per the instructions given by the government. We will not allow anyone to enter without a mask. We are trying our best to follow the hygiene rules. Now the buyers have to help us. A buyer Sagar said that it was very urgent to open a shop or shopping mall before Eid. Some shopping became very necessary. We have benefited a lot from the government’s decision. We have come to shop according to the health instructions as per the instructions of the government.”

The shop owners’ association president Helaluddin said Our demand was to reopen the shops before Eid. The government has complied with our demands. Therefore, we have opened the market in accordance with the instructions given by the government. I will tell all traders to do business according to hygiene rules. Don’t let the situation get worse because of us.”

The government initially imposed a one-week ban to prevent of coronavirus infections from April 5 to April 11. Later it was relaxed and only limited traffic was allowed in the city and shopping malls and shops were opened for a certain period of time.