BAAPA wants reopening of amusement parks

The Bangladesh Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions has urged the government allow them to reopen their establishments from August 11 like other businesses.

Shahriar Kamal, president of the association in a statement to the media said that their establishments were closed during peak business seasons of Eid in the last two years. As a result, they all suffered huge financial losses.

“We all have a lot of investment in this industry. In addition, the livelihoods of many depend on this sector staying afloat,” he said.

Highlighting the difference between amusement parks and tourist spots, Shahriar said, “Unlike open beaches in Cox’s Bazar or Kuakata, we can control the number of visitors and can easily maintain social distance and follow health guidelines”

“We have developed a standard operating procedure in collaboration with Tourism and International Association of Amusement Parks for the safety of visitors. From this we got very good results last year,” he said.

Drawing attention of the Prime Minister to their plight, Shahriar said that their industry will not survive unless their establishments are to reopen, at least in a limited scale.

Recreational parks and amusement centres in the country have been closed since April, 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.