To support the victim traders of the fire-burnt Bangabazar Market, the government, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has taken various initiatives so that they can resume their businesses before the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has herself already announced financial support to the affected traders.
Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said that the Prime Minister wants to pay money from her fund to the affected businessmen.
He said traders have been asked to prepare a list of the affected traders. Once the list is prepared, the government will pay them the money.
Regarding the process of helping businessmen, Salman F Rahman said, "The financial support will be provided considering the loss of the traders."
Meanwhile, Bangabazar fire-affected businessmen have set up shops on the footpath under the flyover with the clothes they managed to save from the devastating fire.
Around 800 traders on Saturday displayed their stocks in the morning. They set up their makeshift shops under the flyover, on the southside of Bangabazar Market.
Many traders were sitting with the clothes they were able to save from the devastating fire last Tuesday.
Even though festive crowds surround the shops, the sales have not really started yet.
The temporary shops were supposed to be set up in Bangabazar on Saturday, but it did not take place as authorities said it would take more time to remove the rubble.
Earlier Salman F Rahman said that businessmen affected by the Bangabazar fire will be given the opportunity to do business temporarily before Eid to compensate for the loss to some extent.
“As soon as possible this place will be cleaned and the shopkeepers will be seated to make up the losses to some extent. But there are some legal issues here. So, this place cannot be cleared before completing the legal process,” he said to reporters after visiting the area affected by the fire in Bangabazar.
“I was able to move some stuff. So I brought it here. No sale yet, because our regular customers do not know the address of the shop. Only Allah knows how we will celebrate this Eid,” one trader said.
Trader Shahidul Islam had a shop in Bangabazar, selling jeans and shirts. The shop burnt to ashes and now he has also set up shop on the footpath.
“Everything is over. There is no money for food at home. So, I was forced to set up shop on the footpath,” he lamented.
Last Tuesday, (April 4) at 6:10 am, a terrible fire broke out in Bangabazar complex in the capital. Bongo Market, Gulistan Market, Mahanagar Shopping Complex, Adarsha Market and Annex Tower were burnt down. Businessmen claim that they have lost around Tk 2000 crore in the fire.
On the other hand, on Saturday a bank account was opened to collect funds for the traders affected by the fire.
The business leaders said that anyone at home and abroad can send financial aid through the savings account number (0200094066031) of IFIC Bank .
Helal Uddin, President of the Shop Owners Association, gave this information in a press conference in Bangabazar on Saturday morning.
He said that the money deposited in that account will be conveyed to Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F. Rahman and Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Fazle Noor Tapas.
Stating that a list of the affected traders is being prepared, he said, we will explain to them after making the list and determining the amount of damage. They will distribute the money.
The businessmen said to temporarily sit in Bangabazar on Saturday to compensate for the massive damage caused by the fire before Eid. But that did not happen as the scene was not fully cleared.
Besides, Bangbazar's burnt goods, especially tin and iron, have been sold for around Tk 40 lakh, said Zahirul Islam, general secretary of Bangbazar Complex Shop Owners Association. That money will also go to the new bank account, he said
