Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association (BSOA) has demanded to reopen the shops and markets after April 20 and urged the government not to extend further lockdown that starts from today (Wednesday).
The demand was made by BSOA at a press conference held at a city hotel on Tuesday.
Earlier, shop owners and employees staged a protest rally at New Market and Gausia Market area demanding to keep markets and businesses open on a limited scale keeping the Eid shopping spree in mind.
Citing that the biggest Muslim festival is approaching nearer, they said that if they were allowed to keep their shops open till 5 pm daily they could do some profit.
A notification was issued by the Cabinet Division on Monday announcing a one-week general lockdown across the country from April 14 to curb the rise in coronavirus.
Except for emergency services, all public and private institutions will remain closed. However, industrial factories can be kept open in compliance with the hygiene rules. The lockdown will run from 6 am of April 14 to midnight of April 21.
Replying to a question on the movement of traders to keep shops open, the state minister for public administration said the market has been kept open for them till April 13. Then a week of strict lockdown is required. The spread of coronavirus and death from it cannot be prevented without strict lockdown.