Bangabazar traders to get space after clearing debris

Staff Reporter  :
The debris of the burnt shops, including tin, iron, grills, and shutters, is being cleared to create space for cloth traders affected by the Bangabazar fire.
This will enable them to resume their business and sell their products before Eid-ul-Fitr, business association leaders said this during a press conference at the premises of Bangabazar on Saturday.
They have demanded not only financial assistance but also quick support to enable them to reopen their shops.
“We have sold the debris of the shops that have been destroyed by Tk 40 lakh. The money will be given to the affected businessmen as assistance. I will also submit a request to the Mayor of the South City Corporation for further assistance, which will be provided through the Mayor’s office in the future,” General Secretary of the Bangabazar Complex Shop Owners’ Association, Md. Zahirul Islam said.
He also said, “The cleaning work has been going on since the fire broke out here. Workers are working day and night. The number of workers has also increased. Once the work is completed, we will discuss with the mayor and start setting up the shops.”
The President of the Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association, Helal Uddin, President of the Bangabazar Complex Shop Owners’ Association, Md. Nazmul Huda, and many other
businessmen were present at the press conference.
Meanwhile, traders affected by the devastating fire in Bangabazar in the capital set up shop on footpaths near the Bangabazar premises since Saturday morning.
Even many have set up shop with the clothes they were able to save under the flyover in the area.
Although there is a festive crowd around the shops, sales have not picked up yet. Nevertheless, footpath business is now a lifeline for the traders of Bangabazar.
On Thursday, after visiting the area affected by the Bangabazar fire, Private Industry and Investment Advisor to the Prime Minister, Salman F Rahman, told journalists, “Although it is somewhat difficult, efforts will be made to provide temporary business opportunities to the affected traders of Bangabazar before Eid.”
“If the area is cleared and the traders can do some business before Eid, it would be good even if they incur some losses. It will not be possible to recover everything, but if we can recover something, that’s good,” he said.
A trader named Arifur Rahman was sitting under the Flyover in Bangabazar with ladies’ items.
“I had a shop on the second floor of the market. Now it is the time for Eid shopping. If I sit idle, no one will give money. So, I am sitting here hoping to sell whatever I can,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Association leaders at the press conference said that bank accounts have been opened to provide financial assistance to the affected businessmen.