Staff Reporter :
The government instructed to open the markets on conditions accordingly, the well-known Bangabazar Market in the capital was reopened on Monday, but the police shut down the market a day after opening.
Although there is an obligation to follow the necessary hygiene guidelines to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, there is no compliance at the said market.
As a result, Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Tuesday shut down Bangabazar market and two more fashion outlets in the city for flouting health safety directives to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.
Bangabazar Market in Gulistan area was shut around noon on Tuesday, said HM Azimul Haque, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
“The space inside the market is too narrow and congested. It is not ideal in space and to accommodate,” he said.
Besides, no health measures were there inside the market, he added.
Meanwhile, police shut down two shops of local fashion brands Aranya and VIVE in Dhanmondi on similar ground, said Abdullahil Kafi, ADC of Dhanmondi Zone.
He said that they did not build any disinfectant booths or sprays.
Besides, there were not enough hand sanitisers.
They can open the outlets after ensuring the health measures, the police official added.
The government decided to reopen shopping malls, all types of shops and other businesses from May 10 on a limited scale ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
The shops and markets will remain open from 10:00am to 4:00pm every day, according to a gazette from the cabinet division.
However, most shopping malls, including the two biggest ones — Bashundhara City and Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka, Chattogram and other major cities have decided not to reopen at present as the number of Covid-19 cases has been spiralling.
The DMP on May 7 circulated at least 12 directives for the city dwellers visiting shopping malls and markets during the pandemic in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
It asked to install disinfection tunnels or chambers at the entrance of every shopping mall and also asked market associations to set up thermal scanners.
Among other instructions from the DMP, were no entry to those who walked without masks on the face and disregarding health safety and social distancing guidelines.
