Amid the prevailing pandemic, more shopping malls are reopening in various districts of the country, including Barisal. Most of them were found breaching health safety directives issued by the government.
People are gathering at the shopping malls in large numbers but no one is following hygiene and social distance rules to curb corona infection.It is feared that the corona situation could take a terrible turn if people do not follow the health and safety directives.
According to our Barisal bureau, despite COVID-19, crowd of people in the market-shopping malls in Barisal is gradually increasing. Several guidelines were issued for shops that are to open, including the installation of disinfection tunnels and thermal scanners, the mandatory wearing of masks and gloves by both sellers and buyers, and the maintaining of social distancing at all times. None of these guidelines are followed by the people there.
Deputy Commissioner SM Aziar Rahman said market and shopping mall authorities need to ensure safe distances to avoid corona risk. The mobile court is trying to ensure social distance by visiting shopping malls.
In the capital’s Chawkbazar area, most of the businesses are operating by keeping the shutters half open. As soon as the people of the administration come, traders pull the shutters down.
Mohammad Al Amin, who came for Eid shopping, said, “I have come to shop before Eid. But no one is following the hygiene rules. Many do not even wear a mask. Sellers should ensure facilities for hand wash or disinfection for customers before entering stores, but it is not seen anywhere.”
One trader, on condition of anonymity said that, “It is not possible to do business according to hygiene rules because buyers are unaware. Many do not even wear masks.” According to Khulna bureau, the district administration has closed all business establishments including shopping malls and shops in Khulna from Friday morning due to non-compliance with hygiene and social distance guidelines.
A circular signed by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Helal Hossain on Thursday afternoon said that a limited number of shops and malls were ordered to be opened from May 9 following hygiene and social distance. But those malls and shops were later shutdown by the authorities as they were not maintaining health directives.
This has led to an increase in corona infections. So, all the shops were ordered to be closed. However, daily necessities, transportation of agricultural commodities, raw materials and drug stores will be exempted from the guidelines.
Our Turag correspondent said that social distance is not being observed in the market-shopping malls of Turag, Uttara, Uttar Khan and Dakshin Khan of the capital.
Uttara Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Nabid Kamal Shaibal said they visited shopping malls and issued warnings to those who were not following government-imposed health guidelines.
He said, “If they can do business according to the rules and regulations, they can continue it; otherwise they will have to close their shop. Uttara Division police have set up check posts in Ashulia, Abdullapur and Airport areas.”
The Gomstapur (Chapainawabganj) correspondent said that the Gomstapur Thana administration has closed the shops indefinitely due to non-observance of hygiene rules. Shops at Chaudala, Rahanpur Station Bazar and Old Bazar in the upazila were closed at noon on Thursday.
In this regard, Gomstapur Police Station OC Jasim Uddin said that due to overflowing crowds in different markets, they have been closed to avoid corona infection. The local administration took this action when the news of increasing the number of people in the markets in Gomstapur was published in various media on Monday.