Big shopping malls and markets across Bangladesh have said they prefer to stay shut ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr to contain Covid-19 transmission, despite the government permitting them to reopen.
“Most of the shopping malls and markets will remain closed until Eid-ul-Fitr while some small markets have reopened, maintaining government health directives,” said Dokan Malik Samity Secretary General Jahirul Haque Bhuiyan, reports BSS.
He said big markets like Bashundhara City Shopping Complex, Jamuna Future Park, New Market, Mouchak, Anarkoli, Polwel, Gazi Bhaban, and City Heart market in the city will remain closed.
Jahirul, however, added that shops and markets on Elephant Road, New Super Market, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) market, Chawkbazar, Islampur, and street side markets will reopen, albeit with caution.
Less than 20% of all shops and markets will reopen ahead of Eid in Dhaka, he said.
In Chittagong, 3,000 big shops and shopping mall owners have decided not to resume business ahead of Eid.
They announced the decision following a meeting with the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) commissioner.
Shop owners in Sylhet also took the same decision, fearing that crowds of shoppers would rapidly spread the pandemic. They came to their decision following a meeting with Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury.
However, most of the markets and malls in Khulna will reopen on Sunday, adhering to government directives. Only the New Market and jewellery shops have decided to remain closed.
“We have decided to continue the shutdown,” Khulna New Market’s shop owners’ association president Abdul Gaffar Bishwash said.
Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) President Md Moniruzzaman also confirmed that no big markets in the city will be reopened before the Eid-ul-Fitr.
But some small and roadside shops in the city were seen reopening on Sunday.
In Rangpur, most of the markets, including the two main shopping malls — Rangpur Super Market and Nawabganj Bazar– were reopened, while many others decided to remain closed.