Government’s decision to reopen shopping malls and businesses from May 10 ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr would provide the shot in the arm that they badly need to make up the losses incurred during the lockdown since March 26.
With the news of lax lockdown on the cards, dressmakers and retailers heaved a sigh of relief as they target the bonanza of Eid sale for earnings in bulk.
Now, they are seeing a glimmer of hope after the prime minister’s announcement that shops would be allowed to open on a limited scale for the Eid-ul-Fitr — the country's biggest shopping festival.
Traders said Eid sales are the market's lifeblood. They also fear that big losses in the making as the market was closed before and even in Ramadan with no sign of the slowing down of pandemic which is a disincentive to business.
Alauddin Malik, president of Bangladesh Avhantarin Poshak Prostutkarak Malik Samity, said reopening of shops will be the last possible way for us to recover some of our losses that we have already incurred because of closing down shops for such a long time.
He also said, "The traders start stocking dresses around two to three months before Eid. But nobody was ready this time for the Covid-19 situation. People can rarely meet their basic needs in such situation. So, there is uncertainty as to if people will have the capacity to purchase new dresses to celebrate Eid,"
"We are not thinking about profit but trying to minimise loss this year after opening shops. Many of our members will go bankrupt this year to repay the loans," said Alauddin Malik who represents about 20,000 small garment factories.
Abdus Sattar Dhali, president of Islampur Cloth Merchant Association “Every Eid sale we generally make a profit around Tk 15,000 crore to Tk 20,000 crore but his year we have to pay a high price as businesses were shuttered and purchase capacity I think also declined amid the pandemic”.
“The wholesale cloth shops of Islampur usually buzz with customers from Shab-e-Barat to 20th Ramadan but now we are passing idle time at home, eyeing reopening of market,” Dhali added.
Talking to The Business Post on Tuesday, Md Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association said, “Apart from mounting losses, we are paying utility bills, shop rents and salaries of salesmen more than a month without earning a single penny. We demand a waiver on loan instalments for three months and loans on flexible terms in light of the government-announced stimulus packages for businessmen”.
“We will try to overcome the loss by operating on a limited scale” he added.
During Ramadan each year, fashion houses, boutiques, garments and other tailoring entities bring various types of dresses and attires to market. Every one of society get their dresses according to their purchase ceiling.
But the Covid-19 has had a negative impact on the economy. The low-income people might not be able to get new dresses for the celebrations. So, the businessmen are in doubt and all of their preparations have been spoilt.
/sh/wi
