Bangabazar market shut for not ensuring Covid-19 safety directives

Police today shut down Bangabazar market and two fashion outlets in Dhaka for flouting health safety directives to prevent the transmission of coronavirus.

Bangabazar market in Gulistan area was shut around noon today, HM Azimul Haque, additional deputy commissioner (Ramna zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star.

"The space inside the market is too narrow and congested. It was not ideal to open shops at this time. Besides, no health measures were taken inside the market," the ADC said.

Earlier in the morning, police shut down two shops of local fashion brands Aranya and VIVE in Dhanmondi, said Abdullahil Kafi, ADC of Dhanmondi Zone.

He said that they did not build any disinfectant booths or sprays. Besides, there were not enough hand sanitisers.

They can open the outlets after ensuring the health measures are in place, the police official added.

The government decided to reopen shopping malls, all types of shops and other businesses from May 10 on a limited scale ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.

The shops and markets will remain open from 10:00am to 4:00pm every day, according to a gazette from the cabinet division.

However, most shopping malls, including the two biggest ones -- Bashundhara City and Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka, Chattogram and other major cities have decided not to reopen at present as the number of Covid-19 cases has been spiralling.

The DMP on May 7 issued at least 12 directives for the city dwellers on visiting shopping malls and markets during the pandemic in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

It asked to install disinfection tunnels or chambers at the entrance of every shopping mall and also asked market associations to set up thermal scanners.

Among other instructions from the DMP were refusing entry to those without masks on and putting up banners illustrating the importance of following health safety and social distancing guidelines.