Special Correspondent :
The recent terrorist attack at Holey Artisan Bakery has dealt a severe blow on the hotel and restaurant business of the city’s Gulshan area.
Businessmen at the terror affected areas on Saturday said their business is suffering from a downturn as fear of terrorism leads to drastic fall in hotel occupancy rate and guest arrivals.
“The hospitality industry continues to hit hard by the Dhaka terror attack as hotels and restaurants lose millions of taka in revenues due to drastic fall in numbers of visitors and guests,” FM Alauddin Mahmud, Secretary General of the Federation of Hotel, Guesthouse and Restaurant Owners’ Association (FHGROA) told The New Nation on Saturday.
He said when the attack has created an uncertainty over the hospitality industry, the ongoing eviction drive on the commercial establishments at the city’s posh areas further worsened the situation.
“Around Tk 2,000 crore has been invested in 28 establishments in the Gulshan area alone. Both the terror attack and the eviction drive put risk on our investment,” he added.
Alauddin Mahmud said eateries, hotels and guest houses of the terror affected areas are suffering the most. You can see that their dining rooms are empty with the arrival of fewer guests and low occupancy rates.
“We are the victim of terror… so we can deserve compensation,” he said, adding, “Businessmen affected by terrorism should be offered tax rebate, soft loans and other benefits to recoup their losses from the terror attacks”.
Alauddin Mahmud mentioned that governments of many countries have offered such facility to the businessmen affected by terrorism.
The FHGROA leader also denounced the government decision to shut down or remove their business establishments in the city’s residential areas like Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani, Uttara and Baridhara. “Such a ‘drastic step’ will be suicidal for economy as it will hamper the growth of the country’s flourishing hospitality and tourism industry. Over one lakh people will also be rendered jobless if the government clears hotels and restaurants from these areas,” he added.
He also appealed to the government not to close or evict their business from these areas considering employment of one lakh as well as betterment of the economy.
At least 3000 foreigners live and avail services at the hotels and eateries located at the city’s Gulshan and Banani areas per night.
The attack on the cafe in Dhaka by heavily armed terrorists on July 1 left 28 people dead, including 20 hostages, most of whom were foreigners.
