Staff Reporter :
Leaders of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity have demanded for opening of markets, shops and small businesses from April 22 assuring of complying with health-safety guidelines.
Besides, they demanded Tk 48,354 crore as loan incentive before Eid for small traders to pay the two months’ salary and bonus of the workers and employees. The leaders also demanded to bring the country under vaccination in the next three months to bring the economy back on track.
The leaders made the demands at a press conference organized by Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity and Dhaka Mohanagar Dokan Malik Samity (North, South units) in the office room of New Market Businessmen’s Association in Dhaka on Sunday.
Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity President Helal Uddin read a written statement at the press conference.
Helaluddin said, “Traders had suffered financially in the last one year due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic. When the first corona infection was detected in Bangladesh on March 18, 2020, we, the shop owners, voluntarily shut down everything from March 25. The government declared everything closed from March 26 the following day. Since then, extreme business recession and financial uncertainty have descended on the lives of small traders in this country.”
He further said, “After the opening of shops and markets on a limited scale after our application on May 5 last year, there has been some momentum in trade and commerce. After that, the government imposed restrictions effective from April 7 to 13 and strict restrictions from April 14 to 21 as the infection continued to increase.”
Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity Secretary General Md. Jahirul Haque Bhuyian and leaders of Dhaka Mohanagar Dokan Malik Samity (North, South units) were present at the press conference.
