bdnews24.com :
Shopkeepers idle away with number of shoppers having drastically fallen amid the BNP-sponsored transport blockade and shutdown.
Traders said daily sales at over 5,000 shops in the area have dropped to a quarter of the peak-time turnover, all due to the blockade enforced by the BNP since Jan 5.
They said many shopkeepers have started drawing on their capital to maintain families as sales have plummeted and profits are vanished.
Several shop owners said they were thinking of laying-off their employees.
Sahabul Haq, a salesman at a bag shop at Dhaka New Market, said their business usually shoot up during Nov-Mar period, but this year was an exception.
“We would sell products worth Tk 20,000-25,000 a day. But now the sale has dropped to Tk 5,000-6,000,” he said.
Paragon Shoes owner Abdur Rahim said he sold goods worth Tk 250,000 in December but that has come down to little above Tk 100,000 in January.
Dhaka New Market (South) Traders Association General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Swapan told bdnews24.com: “Both buyers and traders are in panic due to the violence during the strikes and blockade. Business is severely affected.”
“If the situation continues, they have to come down on the streets (to protest).
Shopkeepers at other malls, including Chandrima Supermarket, Priyangan Shopping Centre, Bodruddoza Supermarket, Noor Jahan Market, Gausiwa Supermarket, Dhanmondi Hawkers’ Market, Chistia and New Chistia Supermarkets, Hosaini Market, Meherba Plaza, Golden Plaza and Chandnichawk Market are experiencing similar drop in their sales.
Shahadat Hossain, a salesperson of Sabiha Fashion at Priyangan Shopping Centre, said their monthly expenses to manage the shop stood at Tk 40,000. But they could not make a profit of even Tk 20,000.
Sanaullah, owner of Newaz Garments at Bodruddoza Market, said he was compelled to send two of his salespersons on leave as sales have dropped to half the normal.
Ashraf Ali, owner of Sinthia Fashions at Noor Jahan Market, said his sales fell to Tk 250,000 in January from around Tk 600,000 in December.
Owner of Fatema Silk Centre at the same market Dulal Hossain said each of their seven shops sustained Tk 40,000 to 50,000 losses in January.
Gausiwa Supermarket Traders’ Association Legal Adviser Belayet Hossain said despite a fall in their sales they came to their shops everyday and pass idle time.
The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance has enforced the countrywide non-stop transport blockade and several rounds of strikes since Jan 5, the first anniversary of the last general election, demanding snap polls under a non-party caretaker administration.
Shopkeepers idle away with number of shoppers having drastically fallen amid the BNP-sponsored transport blockade and shutdown.
Traders said daily sales at over 5,000 shops in the area have dropped to a quarter of the peak-time turnover, all due to the blockade enforced by the BNP since Jan 5.
They said many shopkeepers have started drawing on their capital to maintain families as sales have plummeted and profits are vanished.
Several shop owners said they were thinking of laying-off their employees.
Sahabul Haq, a salesman at a bag shop at Dhaka New Market, said their business usually shoot up during Nov-Mar period, but this year was an exception.
“We would sell products worth Tk 20,000-25,000 a day. But now the sale has dropped to Tk 5,000-6,000,” he said.
Paragon Shoes owner Abdur Rahim said he sold goods worth Tk 250,000 in December but that has come down to little above Tk 100,000 in January.
Dhaka New Market (South) Traders Association General Secretary Mahbubur Rahman Swapan told bdnews24.com: “Both buyers and traders are in panic due to the violence during the strikes and blockade. Business is severely affected.”
“If the situation continues, they have to come down on the streets (to protest).
Shopkeepers at other malls, including Chandrima Supermarket, Priyangan Shopping Centre, Bodruddoza Supermarket, Noor Jahan Market, Gausiwa Supermarket, Dhanmondi Hawkers’ Market, Chistia and New Chistia Supermarkets, Hosaini Market, Meherba Plaza, Golden Plaza and Chandnichawk Market are experiencing similar drop in their sales.
Shahadat Hossain, a salesperson of Sabiha Fashion at Priyangan Shopping Centre, said their monthly expenses to manage the shop stood at Tk 40,000. But they could not make a profit of even Tk 20,000.
Sanaullah, owner of Newaz Garments at Bodruddoza Market, said he was compelled to send two of his salespersons on leave as sales have dropped to half the normal.
Ashraf Ali, owner of Sinthia Fashions at Noor Jahan Market, said his sales fell to Tk 250,000 in January from around Tk 600,000 in December.
Owner of Fatema Silk Centre at the same market Dulal Hossain said each of their seven shops sustained Tk 40,000 to 50,000 losses in January.
Gausiwa Supermarket Traders’ Association Legal Adviser Belayet Hossain said despite a fall in their sales they came to their shops everyday and pass idle time.
The BNP-led 20-Party Alliance has enforced the countrywide non-stop transport blockade and several rounds of strikes since Jan 5, the first anniversary of the last general election, demanding snap polls under a non-party caretaker administration.
