Shopping malls shut fearing spread of virus in Faridpur

Traders in Faridpur have decided to close their shopping malls and markets in the district, two days after reopening those before Eid-ul-fitr, fearing rapid transmission of coronavirus, reports UNB.

Faridpur Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FCCI) took the decision on Monday after a meeting with the businessmen.

Earlier, traders reopened their shopping malls and markets including New Market before Eid-ul-Fitr on Sunday, after over a month long closure, following the decision taken by businessmen in the district.

A huge crowd was seen centering the shopping malls and markets which may cause more fatalities and confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Fearing spread of coronavirus, the traders decided to close their establishments immediately.

During a visit to the New Market and Chwakbazar in the district town, this correspondent saw that people mostly women with their children have thronged to the shopping malls and did not care about social distancing.

The staffs of traders committee were seen asking people to maintain social distance and hygiene policy through loudspeaker.

Traders claimed that, those who thronged at the shopping malls, came from the remote area and they preferred to buy clothes at a low price.

Nazmul Islam Khandaker, director of FCCI, said there were some restriction not to allow children but people did not care about it.

President of FCCI, Siddiqur Rahman, said a decision was taken to close all the shopping mall and business establishments from Tuesday and the local administration has been informed about it.

The government has recently allowed businesspeople to keep shops and shopping malls open for six hours from 10am to 4pm every day from Sunday, after maintaining health guidelines during the general holidays.

Amid the surging new coronavirus cases, the government extended general holidays until 16 May. The government also decided to keep shut all the educational institutions in Bangladesh until 30 May.