Business leaders in Sylhet city and owners of 11 markets in Chattogram city on Friday decided not to open their businesses before Eid-ul-Fitr.
In Sylhet, the decision was taken at a meeting attended by local business leaders, presided over by Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury as the number of coronavirus patents have been increasing.
Everybody agreed to keep their shops shut until Eid, they added.
“It’s a big massage to the government,” said Sylhet Chambers of Commerce’s President Abu Taher Md Shoeb adding that life comes first.Earlier on Thursday, Noyasarak Businessmen Samity in the city also decided to keep their business shut until Eid.
In Chattogram, 11 shop owners decide to keep their business shut until May 31 in the city.
They took this decision at a meeting at Mimi Super Market attended by business leaders of the respective markets.The markets to be closed until May 31 are—Sanmar Ocean City, Chittagong Shopping Complex, Finle Square Shop, Central Plaza, Amin Center, Afmi Plaza, Akhtaruzzaman Centre, Singapore-Bangkok Market, Kollol Super Market, and Mimi Super Market.
The government on Tuesday allowed businessmen to keep shops and shopping malls open for six hours from 10am to 4pm every day from May 10, after maintaining health guidelines during the general holidays.
Earlier on Monday, the Cabinet Division decided to allow shops and malls to operate on a limited scale from 10am to 4pm from May 10.
After the government’s announcement, shop owners started preparing their business to keep it open in the capital along with other metropolitan cities.
Amid the surging new coronavirus cases, the government extended general holidays until May 16.
The government on Tuesday also decided to keep shut all the educational institutions in Bangladesh until May 30.
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Tuesday said it can be presumed that the infection rate will go up to some extent with the reopening of garment factories, shops and markets.
Meanwhile, health experts also warned that the reopening of shops and shopping malls ahead of Eid will lead to a rise in coronavirus cases. Bangladesh has so far confirmed 13,134 coronavirus cases and 206 deaths.UNB
