Shop owners protest for 2nd day demanding to keep markets open 

The owners of shops at New Market, Gauchhia, Hawkers Market and Elephant Road staged a protest blocking Mirpur Road for one hour on Monday morning for the second consecutive day demanding to keep their shops open maintaining hygiene rules during the lockdown.
 
They urged the government to give them permission to keep shops open in compliance with all health guidelines. They also threatened of tougher movement if their demand is not fulfilled by tomorrow.

Abul Hasan, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Newmarket zone) told The Business Standard that agitated businessmen and shop workers vandalised a bus named "Dhaka Metro Paribahan" and some others private vehicles, in front of Chandrima Super market in the Capital. 

"The protesters threw brick chips and blocked Mirpur road. Police immediately dispersed them from the road and traffic situation is now normal," he added.
 
Dewan Aminul Islam, president of New Market Shop Owners' Association, said that coronavirus could not be controlled only keeping shopping markets closed without closing the offices and other institutions.
 
Md. Mosharraf Hossain, joint general secretary of Noor Mansion Market Association, said, "We want the market to be opened for a certain time." 
 
"We couldn't yet recover the losses incurred during the last general holidays," he said.

Harun Rashid, deputy general manager of Sunrise Shopping Complex at Dhanmondi 27 told The Business Standard on Monday noon that they have blocked Dhanmondi-27 intersection in demand of reopening the markets.
 
Normally after Shab-e-Barat, shopping and sales get momentum. But this time, the government imposed a lockdown, he said, adding that "We are struggling to pay the rent and the salaries of the employees."
 
"We would like to request the government to withdraw restrictions from markets," said Mosharraf.
 
The government declared a seven-day lockdown in the country starting Monday to curb the new surge in Covid-19 infections.