Dhaka New Market will not reopen from May 10; 12 malls in Ctg extend closure too

Dhaka New Market Business Association today decided not to reopen the markets from May 10 due to the growing number of Covid-19 infected persons in Dhaka and elsewhere.

The move comes following similar decisions by Bashundhara City Shopping Mall and Jamuna Future Park to remain closed.

Association leaders said untoward situations might arise if market staffers force people to follow health guidelines of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and the government.

"Earlier, we decided to reopen the Dhaka New Market as per the government deadline from May 10 considering our livelihood and earning. But we saw that number of Covid-19 infected persons are increasing. In this situation, most of the shop owners decided not to reopen before Eid," Dr Dewan Aminul Islam Shahin, president, Dhaka New Market Business Association, told The Daily Star.

He also said the DMP has given various directions which would be tough to follow.

"People might be displeased or create untoward situation when our staffers force them to follow those guidelines," he added.

There are 506 shops in New Market having around 3,000 employees.

Earlier on Wednesday, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall and Jamuna Future Park—the two biggest shopping malls in the country decided not to reopen their markets fearing spread of Covid-19 among staffers and buyers.

DMP on Thursday came up with a set of directives which include shoppers will have to confirm their home address by showing their identity cards or original copies of utility bills while going to markets.

It also asked to install disinfection tunnels or chambers at the entrance of every shopping mall and thermal scanners to measure body temperature.

Besides, every shopping mall authority will have to be ensure directives of the health ministry which include the arrangement of hand sanitisers and barring entry to anyone not wearing a mask.

12 shopping malls to stay closed till May 31 in Ctg

Owners of 12 large shopping malls in Chattogram city have decided to keep the malls closed till May 31 to prevent spread of coronavirus infection in the port city.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the shop owners' association and the traders' association today, reports our Chattogram correspondent.

"The number of Covid-19 cases in Chattogram is increasing day by day. In this situation, we decided to keep the markets closed May 31 and other markets in the city will confirm their decisions within a day or two," Zakir Hossain, president of Mimi Super Market Business Association, told The Daily Star.

"We took this decision after discussing among ourselves separately. Everyone agreed to keep the market closed until the situation returns to normalcy. For now, we have decided to keep the market closed until May 31," he added.

Apart from Mimi Super Market, the other 11 shopping centres in the port city are: Khulshi Town Centre, Sanmar Ocean City, Chittagong Shopping Complex, Finlay Square, Central Plaza, Amin Center, Afmi Plaza, Lucky Plaza, Kallol Super Market, Singapore-Bangkok Market and Concord Market.

Besides, about 50 more shopping malls' owners and businessmen in New Market, Andarkillah, Agrabad and EPZ areas of the city have yet to make a decision but are discussing with members of the association about not opening the market before Eid, said business leaders.

"It is not possible to ensure social distancing measures for all the customers coming to the markets," said Rumman Ahmed, president of Khulshi Town Centre.