Leaders of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity have demanded the opening of markets, shops and small businesses in compliance with health guidelines from April 22.

Besides, they demanded Tk 48, 354 crore as loan incentive before Eid for small traders to pay the two-month salary and bonus of the workers and employees. The leaders also demanded to bring the country under vaccination in the next three months with the aim of overcoming the overall economic stagnation of the country.

The leaders made the demands at a press conference organized by Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity and Dhaka Mohanagar Dokan Malik Samity (North, South units) at the office room of New Market Businessmen’s Association in Dhaka on Sunday.

Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity President Helal Uddin read a written statement at the press conference. At the press conference, Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity Secretary General Md. Jahirul Haque Bhuyian and leaders of Dhaka Mohanagar Dokan Malik Samity (North, South units) were present.

Helaluddin said, “Traders had suffered financially in the last one year due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic. When the first corona infection was detected in Bangladesh on March 18, 2020, we, the shop owners, voluntarily shut down everything from March 25. The government declared everything closed from March 26 the next day. Since then, extreme business recession and financial uncertainty have descended on the lives of small traders in this country.”

He further said, “After the opening of shops and markets on a limited scale after our application on May 5 last year, there has been some momentum in trade and commerce. After that, the government imposed restrictions from April 7 to 13 and strict restrictions from April 14 to 21 as the infection continued to increase.”

They demanded to open markets considering the situation of the traders.