Coronavirus: Ctg trade body leaders not in mood to reopen markets

CHATTOGRAM: Despite enormous economic loss suffered by shopkeepers and small traders of greater Chattogram triggered by the 40-day-long general holidays due to coronavirus outbreak, many merchant bodies here have delayed taking a decisive move to reopen markets and shops following the government's announcement to lift embago on resuming their businesses.

On Tuesday, the government decided to allow supermarkets, shopping malls and shops reopen on March 10 on a limited scale and run the businesses untill the day before the Eid day aiming to facilitate the traders open their establishments paving the way for resuming their income to support their livelihood.

But the port city's merchant associations and market owners have not yet taken a final decision to restart the businesses fearing noncompliance by the buyers with the authority's order to maintain social distancing which may trigger further spread of the deadly virus.

After criticisms by different quarters including media over the government's decision to allow markets and shops open in the country from Mar 10, leaders of different business organisations, market and shopowners associations have aired fears of a significant rise in spread of the COVID-19 in case of restarting the trade, including the small businesses, as the remaining part of Ramadan month will see a rush of Eid shoppers which will certainly contribute to a rapid spread of the virus in Chattogram region.

Talking to the FE, general secretary of Chattogram chapter of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association Sayed Khurshid Alam said there are around 0.3 million shopowners in Chattogram region, including Cox's Bazar and the three hill districts who have been tremendously suffering due to closure of their establishments for the COVID-19 pandemic. But they people of this region will suffer more if the the virus spreads further. Now, all the stakeholders, including the shopowners will take a decision in this regard, he said.

Opening of shops is not mandatory, if a shopowner wants to reopen his shop, he can do that. If he is unwilling to open the shop, he can keep it shut, he stated.

Jakir Hossain, president of Mimi Supermarket Merchants' Association said, "We held a meeting yesterday. But, we cannot take any decision in this regard. It is fact that if any staff of a market gets affected by coronavirus, the authority will have to immediately lockdown the whole market. In that case, the opening of market will not be considerably beneficial."

However, the business people who were waiting for starting their businesses during the Eid season, are incurring losses every day.

President of Reajuddin Bazar Bonik Kollyan Samity Mahbub Alam said that they cannot ignore any directive of the government in the current situation of a deadly virus pandemic. "As per announcement of the government, we will reopen the market on May 10. If any shopowner wants to not open his shop, he may do so," he added.

General Secretary of Chittagong Shopping Complex Bonik Somity Golam Mostafa said in the present situation, they were expecting a new announcement from the government in this regard very soon. "If the government makes no fresh announcement within the next two days, we will reopen the market on May 10," he said.

Echoeing him, president of Sanmar Ocean City Merchant Association and Finlay Market Merchant Association Iftekhar Hossain Asad said, "We are yet to take any decision in this regard. If we open the market on May 10 next, we will take necessary measures for the safety of customers and staffs of shops. But, we are waiting for holding a discussion with other associations of markets and shops to take a final decision in this regard."

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