Reza Mahmud :
On account of the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant businesses are struggling to survive as about 20 percent trading are already on the brink of extinction, sources said.
According to the Restaurant owners association, there are about 10,000 restaurants in Dhaka city and about 60,000 across the country.
Most of those already suffered huge losses and are not in a position to bear any more.
The association leaders said that with the beginning of the countrywide lockdown on March 26, the restaurants in every areas were closed in deep sea.
After the administration’s approval to the restaurants to sell Iftary items to customers on April 28, the business breathed to survive.
But due to certain conditions the restaurant owners struggled to earn profit and still struggling. “Since then, the loss cannot be reduced. We are counting loss every month,” said Muhammad Manik, a restaurant owner from Mirpur, Dhaka.
He said, “It is not the consideration of the building owners whether we get profit or loss, they start giving pressures to restaurant owners to pay house rent before ending of the month.”
Moreover, the restaurant owners are under a regular pressure to pay monthly wages to the workers including chefs. The other expenditures including water, gas, electricity and news papers are a regular burden.
“In these circumstances, many hotel and restaurants are on the edge of shurt down. As many as 20 percents of the hotels and restaurants are going to be closed soon,” said M. Rezaul Karim Sarker, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association.
He said the Prime Minister gave order for payment of incentives and sanction of loans to all businesses, but the banks are not sympathised with the restaurant owners.
Rezaul Karim Sarker said hotel restaurants are helping the nation through various ways, so we deserve support to survive from the government.
Many restaurants have been closed in Dhanmondi alone. Some have transferred ownership. The closing list includes U Ki Central and Cafe Fifty.
In Gandaria, Alamin Hotel and Restaurant near the railway station premises are struggling for survival since the corona lockdown.
“Everyone in the area knows that Alamin hotel is very popular for serving better foods. We had profit until the pandemic attacked the country. But after the lockdown our business is facing serious setback. Now we are struggling with our workers for survival,” said Babul Hossain, owner of the hotel.
He also urged support from the government.
On account of the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the restaurant businesses are struggling to survive as about 20 percent trading are already on the brink of extinction, sources said.
According to the Restaurant owners association, there are about 10,000 restaurants in Dhaka city and about 60,000 across the country.
Most of those already suffered huge losses and are not in a position to bear any more.
The association leaders said that with the beginning of the countrywide lockdown on March 26, the restaurants in every areas were closed in deep sea.
After the administration’s approval to the restaurants to sell Iftary items to customers on April 28, the business breathed to survive.
But due to certain conditions the restaurant owners struggled to earn profit and still struggling. “Since then, the loss cannot be reduced. We are counting loss every month,” said Muhammad Manik, a restaurant owner from Mirpur, Dhaka.
He said, “It is not the consideration of the building owners whether we get profit or loss, they start giving pressures to restaurant owners to pay house rent before ending of the month.”
Moreover, the restaurant owners are under a regular pressure to pay monthly wages to the workers including chefs. The other expenditures including water, gas, electricity and news papers are a regular burden.
“In these circumstances, many hotel and restaurants are on the edge of shurt down. As many as 20 percents of the hotels and restaurants are going to be closed soon,” said M. Rezaul Karim Sarker, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association.
He said the Prime Minister gave order for payment of incentives and sanction of loans to all businesses, but the banks are not sympathised with the restaurant owners.
Rezaul Karim Sarker said hotel restaurants are helping the nation through various ways, so we deserve support to survive from the government.
Many restaurants have been closed in Dhanmondi alone. Some have transferred ownership. The closing list includes U Ki Central and Cafe Fifty.
In Gandaria, Alamin Hotel and Restaurant near the railway station premises are struggling for survival since the corona lockdown.
“Everyone in the area knows that Alamin hotel is very popular for serving better foods. We had profit until the pandemic attacked the country. But after the lockdown our business is facing serious setback. Now we are struggling with our workers for survival,” said Babul Hossain, owner of the hotel.
He also urged support from the government.
