The devastating arson and vandalism in and around Baitul Mukarram Shopping Complex during Hefazat-e-Islam’s Motijheel rally has left the small businesses in the area completely ruined.
The victims of the fire include wayside vendors who sold cheap clothes, books, stationery and various miscellaneous items to city dwellers.
Visiting the scene of the devastation, this correspondent found many vendors walking around in the rubble and remnants of their burned businesses in tears. They say at least 200 wayside shops were burned down between the general post office and Baitul Mukarram Shopping Complex. Wayside shops around the Bangladesh Shangbad Shanstha office were also burned down, trees felled, lampposts vandalised and vehicles torched.
“I had cosmetic shop worth around Tk150,000. When Hefazat-e-Islam started their rally, we closed shop and left following police orders,” Nazibul Islam told this correspondent.
“Later I discovered that Hefazat activists had set my shop on fire.” Nazibul says he does not know how he will pay the installments to his lenders.
Tears filled his eyes as Nazibul said he had not yet sent his family of five, who live in a village at Langolkot in Comilla, money for their monthly expenses. “They are waiting for me to send money for food,” he said.
Mohammad Hedayet, a clothes seller said he had lost everything in the fire. He blamed Hefazat for his ruin. Hedayet says he owes local lenders debts that amount to Tk70,000.
“Goods worth around Tk250,000 were gutted in the fire,” said Moslehuddin Khokon, owner of a show store.
“We never thought that they would attack our shops,” he said. “During the time of big violence in 2004, activists vandalised many cars that were parked in front of our shops but did not attack the shops.”
Khokon says he has no money to pay the rent or feed his family. “They have not only burned down my shop, they have killed my family, my children and my parents.”
Most of the businessmen who have been affected by the violent rampage say they have loans to pay and have no clue as to how they would recover their businesses.