The first lot of shoppers didn't mince words when New Market re-opened following clearance from authorities.
Neither did the exhausted fire service personnel after the latest fire devastation that effectively brought small businessmen and traders to their knees at New Super Market.
The first group were evocative about their personal safety and ridiculous prices. The second helplessly waved copies of notices that had been served on markets, malls, and even residences, citing them as safety hazards that were to be addressed.
The shop owners' associations ducked questions with alacrity as they sought assistance for the businesses to be given a chance to get back on their feet.
It wasn't surprising that public support for funding their recovery has been tight and demure. The general people are tired and exhausted, mostly by having to cut back on buying essential commodities -- because budgets don't match.
Late mayor Annisul Huq had pleaded with shop owners of Gulshan DNCC market for a four month closure at their choice to retro-fit the area. 14 notices were served on Bongo Bazar market by the fire service.
Several lists of dangerously risky structures -- business, government, and residential -- are gathering dust somewhere that identify massive risk of human casualties unless these are either dismantled and built afresh or retro-fitted.
The business community was lackadaisical. The immediate issue of profit rather than longer term sustainability and, crucially, consumer safety and convenience were disdainfully overlooked. By small grace, no lives were lost.
The owners' association have had no compunction in selling off portions of staircases at Gausia Market. The buyers are as unmoved regarding the repercussions. New Super Market's association itself is in a hurry to open up so as to recuperate whatever they can.
No one has considered that the fire caused extensive damage to electricity lines and indeed weakened the already dodgy structure, thereby increasing the risk to workforce and customers manifold.
Amid the tragedy and heartbreak and examples of extreme bravery and volunteer support, another face of society has reared its ugly head. Barely a day after the Pohela Boishakh festivity where everyone bent backwards to say they wanted to sweep out all evil, there were the opportune ones ready to risk being caught in stealing cash boxes and even retrieved stocks carefully recovered.
Bongo Bazar gave us the first signs. New Super Market stamped the seal decisively. But it has to be said that businessmen got a taste of unscrupulous behaviour that a section of them too have been guilty of.
Wind back to a few months ago where absolutely unnecessary hikes of edible oil and sugar allowed them to picket cool profits before the government could intervene.
Sadly, the government's inaction has left general people numb. It could have reacted by imposing windfall profit taxes to recover and recirculate some of those obscene profits.
Business associations had issued dire warnings, government ministers in tandem, about excess profiteering and the Consumer Rights Maintenance Directorate has been making examples of individual shops and goods.
Business has become overpowering in influence and so pooh-poohed it away. Bongo Bazar traders chased away media and officials when they went to enquire about implementation of closure notices. Counterfeit cosmetic dealers of Old Dhaka chased away the Consumer Rights officials on one of its raids.
If this is Dhaka, one can imagine the state of affairs elsewhere. Media coverage of markets during Eid shopping show examples of tinder boxes just waiting to burst into flames.
Markets that have more shops than allocated space (New Super Market was designed to house 1200 shops; estimates put actual numbers much higher) inevitably encroach on passageways, thereby restricting air flow. Very few, if any, have minimum fire-fighting equipment.
New Super Maket owners put in an effort after the Bongo Bazar incident to install 70 fire-extinguishers. Too little, too late.
The prime minister has spoken of investigating possible intentional destruction. Given the curious similarity of timing of the fire breakouts, questions rightly have to be asked.
The Dhaka South City Corporation hasn't found any connections relating to Bongo Bazar. New Super Market is being probed by the fire service and the army. Nawabpur appears to have dropped from the radar, as has Siddique Bazar.
What didn't make the headlines is the main point. After the Eid holidays as per the fire department's listing, there will be 15 day corridors for shops to vacate while full safety assessments are made.
One must find hope in the prime minister's directive. It appears to be only saving grace left, what with irresponsible statements from ministers no longer holding water.
Businesses must rethink if they and their consumers are to be protected. These are hard days when sympathy must be earned and deserved.
Mahmudur Rahman is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, and communications specialist.
