The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association (BSOA) has demanded the opening of markets, shops and small businesses from April 22. Moreover, they have demanded Tk 48,354 crore from the government as loan incentive before Eid.
The demands were made at a press conference held at the office of the New Market Business Association in the city on Sunday. President of BSOA Md Helal Uddin read out the written statement at the press conference.
In the time of growing effects of Covid-19, the government imposed a one-week lockdown across the country on April 4. The next day, traders from across the country, including those of the capital Dhaka, staged demonstrations demanding opening of their shops.
Taking their demand into cognizance, the government allowed the opening of shopping malls and shops from April 9 to April 13 in compliance with the health rules. After a loose lockdown in the first phase, a nationwide one-week lockdown was declared again from April 14. The second lockdown is likely to end on April 21 at 12 noon.
However, the government is planning to extend the deadline by one more week before the end of the second phase of strict lockdown.
It was learnt that a meeting was likely to be held on Sunday regarding the matter. The ongoing lockdown could be extended for another week from April 22 to April 26, subject to the approval of the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, traders demanded the opening of markets, shops and small businesses during the lockdown.