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Businesses in Rajshahi stuck due to closure

Businesses in Rajshahi stuck due to closure

Small and big businesses in Rajshahi have taken a huge hit due to the nationwide curfew imposed by the government following the recent student movement demanding the abolition of the quota system in government services.

Daily turnover in many of the city’s business units has fallen to almost zero in the past 10 days since student riots peaked on July 18, 2024.

According to insiders, the business units in Rajshahi have suffered a colossal loss of around Tk5.0 billion (Tk500 crore) during the ongoing crisis.

Currently, they are incurring losses of at least Tk500-600 million (Tk50-60 crore) every day due to the relaxed curfew.

The government imposed the curfew two days after the “complete shutdown” called for by the rebels on July 18.

Due to the current situation, trade and business have come to a standstill and the roads in Rajshahi division look deserted.

Shops remain closed somewhere in the city’s shopping malls. As a result, traders have to count crores of taka losses every day.

Currently, the curfew has been relaxed, but it is reported that at least 500-600 million taka is lost every day as no business can be conducted all day.

Sirajul Islam, a small businessman at the RDA market in the city, said no business has been done for the past ten days due to the undesirable situation in the country.

“The shops had to be closed due to the curfew. Shops were opened after the curfew was relaxed, but there are still few customers,” he added.

“If the business situation continues like this, it will be very bad. We have shop rent, employee salaries. I don’t understand how to meet this,” he continued.

Lutfar Rahman, manager of the GenX showroom in Rajshahi, said: “Our business is actually with the buyers. But there are no people in the city. The streets are empty. We are going through a terrible situation.”

Farid Mahmud Hasan, president of Rajshahi Business Oikya Parishad, said that Rajshahi has come to a standstill due to the curfew. Now the curfew has been relaxed but traders are incurring losses. It will be very difficult to break this deadlock.

Masudur Rahman Rinku, chairman of the Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that due to the ongoing crisis, a loss of at least Tk5.0 billion (Tk500 crore) has been suffered in the trade and business sector in the Rajshahi region in the past 10 days.

Md Jamirul Islam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media Spokesperson), Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), said information from various sources, including intelligence, is being considered to ensure the safety of the people in the city. Information is also being taken from other quarters of the administration.

A decision will be made on relaxing the curfew, taking into account the overall situation.

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