Burnt New Super Market active again

The New Super Market burnt by a devastating fire just before the Eid-ul-Fitr has become active again removing burnt clothes and garbage.

Traders in almost all the shops on the first and second floor have started selling products from Wednesday last. However, traders of the damaged shops on the east side of the second floor could not restart business as it would take 10-15 days more to get the shops ready.

Earlier on April 15, a terrible fire broke out in the New Super Market, adjacent to New Market in the capital Dhaka, gutting hundreds of shops on the first and second floors.

Visiting the market yesterday, this correspondent saw that traders have started selling in almost all types of shops including home textile and crockery shops on the first floor and clothing shops on the second floor. The entire market has been provided with alternative electricity connection as the main electricity line has not been repaired yet. The gates connecting the market to New Market have also been opened.

Some of the pants and shirt shops in the eastern part of the second floor have already been repaired, but most of the shops in this part are yet to be renovated.

Imran Ahmed, a businessman of shirt-pants shop Signature on the third floor, was busy repairing his shop.

He said, “I had two shops here. Both of the shops were burnt and I could not save anything. Besides, all the furniture were burnt. I am making it all over again. The market association has arranged electricity for now. I am trying to finish the work in the next 10 days.”

The number of customers has also increased in the market. Many were seen shopping with their families. Salesmen on the second floor were inviting the customers as before. Many customers are coming to shop in New Market and entering the New Super Market also out of curiosity. Many have come to shop knowing that the market has reopened.

The salesmen at the market said that they reopened the shops for two days before Eid. But the sales were low during those two days. And after a four-day Eid vacation, they opened the shops from Wednesday last. The number of buyers was limited till Friday, but it is increasing gradually from Saturday.

Sohag, the shopkeeper of Maer Doa, said, “Sales will not gain momentum until all the shops are renovated and reopened. It will take another 10-15 days to start business on the second floor.”

Traders in the New Super Market apprehended that the number of buyers coming to the market will decrease than before as the foot over bridge connecting the market with Gausia Market has been completely demolished. People coming to Gausia Market can no longer easily go to New Super Market now.

No financial assistance

Each of the employees of Bangabazar Market which also was burnt by a devastating fire received Tk 25,000 financial assistance before Eid, but the traders and employees of New Super Market were deprived of any such assistance.

The employees said that their name list and mobile banking numbers were collected by the administration after the fire incident, but they have not received any cash assistance yet.