In the aftermath of the Green Cozy Cottage tragedy and under the scrutiny of various government agencies, the historic Iftar market on Bailey Road has witnessed a significant decline in activity.
With a decrease in the number of shops, the bustling atmosphere has been notably subdued.
For years, during the holy month of Ramadan, both restaurants and numerous roadside iftar vendors adorned both sides of Bailey Road, reminiscent of the lively scene at Chawkbazar in old Dhaka.
However, since the tragic incident on February 29, when 46 individuals lost their lives due to ignorance, mismanagement, and negligence, public apprehension and insecurity have deterred visitors from frequenting the Bailey Road.
Presently, despite the onset of Ramadan, observations reveal a stark absence of iftar shops along the Bailey Road. Instead of customary gatherings of buyers, locks adorn the entrances of renowned restaurants, hotels, and shops, painting a sombre picture of the once-thriving bazaar.
The Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), and the Fire Service and Civil Defence conducted mobile court operations in the capital city, resulting in the sealing off of several dozen restaurants.
Many renowned shops such as Sultan’s Dine, Nawabi Voj, Fakruddin Biryani and Cafe remained closed. Some were closed by the government agencies and some were closed by the operators themselves amid the mounting tensions of harassment.
Aysha Akter, a resident of Bailey Road, expresses her grief, saying, “I am a native of Bailey Road and have a deep connection to this place. Before Ramadan, there used to be hustle and bustle here from noon onwards. I miss the chatter of people the most.”
Jamal Chawdhury came to buy iftar along with his son. He said, “I bought iftar from Capital Iftar Bajar, but there were less people as well as iftar items are not like previous. Actually I feel unsafe to come here. Who knows another incident would not happen.”
Frustrations were heard from sellers over the rise in commodity prices and the absence of buyers. However, they hope that the old image of Bailey Road will be restored after a few days of fasting.
A sales executive for A One Food, a pastry shop, said, “Our customers have decreased and yesterday a lot of food went unsold. Our sales have slumped around 30 per cent. It seems to be the case today as well, as we are facing losses on all fronts.
“Now the biggest challenge is to sustain our existence.”
Making iftar items, which are considered the main products of restaurants in Ramadan, is now a tough job for the restaurant owners since fear of harassment forcing them to close shops.
Swiss Bakery Senior Sales Executive Md Sirajul Islam said, “Bailey Road was deserted after the incident that day. When one comes here and looks at this building, one no longer has the mind-set of eating iftar. Our customers are less than 1 in 10 compared to last year.”
He added, “Closing the shop is not a solution. Proper action should be taken against those restaurants that are doing business without following safety measures, emergency exit, and fire safety systems.”
Apart from the restaurants, the same is the case with sidewalk shops. Kuddus Mia, a roadside vendor, said, It seems that if not Bailey Road, the entire Dhaka city would catch fire, along with our business.
“After this event, people have no support, and people have no aspirations. Everyone is afraid of never knowing what will happen.”
But people at large demand attention to prevent such incidents from happening again. Nurul Molla, a local resident, said, “Proper fire safety, emergency exit, and other necessary measures should be ensured to the restaurant by the government agencies.
The seller also urged the government agencies to permit them to run their restaurants and shops. They want to conduct their business without any hindrance.
