The ongoing blockade and frequent general strikes have taken a heavy toll on people of the low-income groups, who are struggling to make ends meet.
Hawkers, street vendors and day labourers are finding it challenging to make money amid the blockade imposed by the BNP-led 20-party alliance across the country.
Small vendors and hawkers operating on the streets in the capital say their earnings have fallen dramatically as they are not getting too many customers since the blockade came into force.
Sumon, who sells handkerchieves, undergarments and masks in front of Hall Market in Gulistan, said he was finding it difficult to just even get by.
“Simply put, people are not buying these days. Products sold at roadside stalls are by and large popular among people migrating to Dhaka from different parts of the country but vendors like us are in serious trouble because of the blockade,” he said.
Riton Das, a cobbler who also sells shoes in Shukrabad, said yesterday he had only made Tk50 by mending shoes all day, which would barely cover his family expenses for the day.
“I need at least Tk300 to buy today’s daily commodities. This is why I was forced to sell a pair of shoes for Tk250, which actually cost me Tk300 to buy,” he said.
Riton said people were reluctant to get out fearing they might become the victims of street violence, which was the key reason why small traders doing business on roads had been hit hard by the blockade.
Shukur Ali Matobbor, who runs a small showpiece store in front of Curzon Hall on Dhaka University premises, sounded anxious while talking to the Dhaka Tribune.
“The majority of my customers are women but they are now too frightened to get out of home and buy products sold by traders like me,” he said.
Shukur said sales had really slid recently, causing his earnings to plummet.
“I used to make Tk2,000-3,000 a day by selling my products before the blockade was imposed but the figure now hovers around Tk500-600. If the situation continues this way, I would have to starve.
“I have not been able to pay my house rent for the last two months and I am really worried about the coming days,” he added.
Twenty-year-old Abu Taher, who sells old books at his makeshift stall in front of Baitul Mukarram mosque, said sales had gone down at a worrying level.
“Besides, we live in constant fear of street violence which might erupt any time. Evening is the time of the day when I get the highest number of customers but I have kept my stall closed for the last few days for fear of violence and rampage,” he added.
Amzad Ali, who hawks rat poison in Dhaka, told yesterday he earned a mere Tk85 in the whole day.
“The continuous blockade and strike have threatened my livelihood. I borrowed some money from one of my acquaintances the day before yesterday to buy rice and vegetables,” he said.
Amzad has his wife and three children at home, and said the household expense and education costs of his children come from money he gets by selling rat poison.
The blockade imposed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on January 5 came into force the following day.