Small businesses need special attention
Small businesses are the ones that play greater roles for the development of an economy since most people work under whether a small or a medium enterprise. They are the ones most vulnerable to any adverse situation. These businesses have been severely hit by the pandemic throughout the world due to the disruption of a national and international network of businesses and their supply chain. To look at the fact from even deeper perceptions, BIGD has conducted a survey on this small enterprise at around 18 districts and unfortunately, the study finds that most of the small and also some medium enterprises were forced by the pandemic to shut down, and certain enterprises were operating on a very limited scale, just to survive. When talking to these businesses it was found that the main reason behind the trouble was a drop in customers’ demand and maintaining the fixed costs.
At the same time, this led to many other adverse effects on the economy. Thousands of workers all over the country were losing their jobs, and the policymakers are working hard to narrow down the gender gap, it was again widening because female labor-intensive works such as beauty parlors and tailoring are facing even more negative consequences due to the pandemic. However, for both the small and medium enterprises, the profits dropped drastically and even led to situations of unbearable losses and clearly indicated the importance of lifting them up for the economy.
The study suggests that there are severe concerns of potential vulnerabilities for the small and medium enterprises in the future as well, and aimed to bring about the importance of supporting them from the current period, suggesting the government to provide stimulus packages and other kinds of financial support.
Afroja Anwar Bidisha
Student, North South University
Ensure women’s safety
Almost every day, news of women becoming victims to horrifying fate reaches us. They are being raped, irrespective of their age and most of the times they are murdered by strangulation or by weapons. From the news report of February 20, 2022, we learned that three men sliced the body of a woman after rape in Sunamganj.
This fiendish crime is increasing day by day because the culprits are not punished as they should. The rapists must get death penalty for the heinous deed and only it could rein in these unspeakable incidents.
I hope the government will consider it and give safety to women which they have the right to get.
Nur Jahan
Chattogram
