Businesses see low customer turnout despite curfew relaxation | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
July 24, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025
Businesses see low customer turnout despite curfew relaxation

Economy

Shahadat Hossain
03 August, 2024, 10:25 am
Last modified: 03 August, 2024, 10:23 am

Related News

  • Businesses see no imminent threat to trade over India-Pakistan conflict
  • 82% businesses find current tax rate unfair, a major challenges: CPD study
  • Make sure your homes, businesses are secured before leaving for Eid holidays: DMP chief tells citizens
  • Commuters bear brunt of fare mismanagement as unfit buses hit roads with pink coats: Jatri Kalyan Samity
  • End of the line: Thousands of passengers stranded, frustrated amid railway staff strike

Businesses see low customer turnout despite curfew relaxation

This trend is mirrored in hotels, restaurants, entertainment centres, and grocery markets, creating significant uncertainty among business owners

Shahadat Hossain
03 August, 2024, 10:25 am
Last modified: 03 August, 2024, 10:23 am
File photo of Basundhara City Shopping Complex/TBS
File photo of Basundhara City Shopping Complex/TBS

Despite the relaxation of the curfew, shopping malls in the capital remain devoid of customers, with sellers idly waiting for the buyers.

This trend is mirrored in hotels, restaurants, entertainment centres, and grocery markets, creating significant uncertainty among business owners.

A visit to several shopping malls, grocery markets, and hotels and restaurants in the capital on Friday revealed this situation. Businessmen attributed this to people's fear of unrest.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

New Market, typically bustling with crowds, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, was noticeably empty.

Parvez Hossain, a vendor at Noorjahan Shopping Complex in New Market, told TBS, "There are no sales. Even 20% of the usual sales are not happening. People are not coming out due to fear of the situation. There are no sales at all, even on a Friday. This situation has been going on for the past few days."

Adilur Rahman, the manager of Bata's Basundhara City Shopping Mall outlet, said, "We have an annual stock clearance offer going on. There is a discount of up to 20-50% on products. Even then, there are no customers. Sales are at least 70% lower compared to a regular Friday."

Like Bata, most other stores at the mall were almost devoid of customers. Jewellery, cosmetics, and clothing stores also had very few customers and the usually crowded food court of the mall was almost empty yesterday.

Md Shariful Islam, the owner of Chowa Boutique in Dhaka's Rapa Plaza, told TBS, "Business is terrible. There is no one in the market except the shopkeepers. I have not made a single sale in the last three days. At the end of the month, we have to pay employee salaries and shop rent. Where will I get the money if there is no business? We are heading towards a dire situation."

Md Helal Uddin, president of the Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity (shop owners association), described the business situation as extremely dire and difficult to describe.

He said, "Many shops have not been able to generate any income for the past 5-7 days. Business has been bad since the beginning of July, and it has deteriorated significantly since mid-July. People are now very cautious about going out. There is a sense of fear and anxiety among people."

He further said that even after the curfew relaxation, the situation has not improved much.

According to the Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, closing all shops in the country for a single day results in a loss of at least Tk2,000 crore.

Meanwhile, traders in the commodity sector have also reported a decline in customer footfall.

Md Shaon, a wholesale rice trader at Karwan Bazar in Dhaka, told TBS on Friday, "There are no buyers in the rice market. People are not coming. This problem has been ongoing for the past few days. Sales are almost nonexistent."

Babu Miah, a wholesale onion trader, shared similar concerns. He told TBS that there is an adequate supply of onions, but there are fewer buyers. He reported that prices are stable however, sales still remain low.

Imran Hassan, secretary general of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association, told TBS that online sales were halted for a few days due to internet outages.

Additionally, the current situation in the country has led to a decline in the number of customers visiting hotels and restaurants. Even after the relaxation of the curfew, sales in restaurants have decreased.

The usual Friday crowd at entertainment parks and facilities in the capital were also lacking yesterday.

Anup Kumar Sarker, executive director of Concord Group and chief coordinator of Bangladesh Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions told TBS, "The parks were reopened on Friday after the curfew relaxation. However, people are not coming. In fact, today (Friday) you could say there is absolutely no one. The business situation is very bad.

The curfew, imposed on July 20, was gradually relaxed, leading to business establishments reopening. However, with low customer turnout, they are struggling.

Bangladesh / Top News

businesses / suffering / Curfew in Bangladesh / curfew relaxation

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Photo:UNB
    Bangladesh, US set for crucial online meeting tomorrow over tariff issue
  • What led to BB's dress code circular, will any action be taken against those involved?
    What led to BB's dress code circular, will any action be taken against those involved?
  • A crane removes debris from the BAF fighter jet that crashed into Milestone School and College on Monday, 21 July 2025. Photo: Olid Ibna Shah/TBS
    Milestone tragedy: 15-year-old succumbs to 85% burn injuries; death toll at 30

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
    Ctg port authority halts contractor recruitment for Kamalapur ICD operations for two months
  • Fire at Cosmo School in Mirpur on 23 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Fire breaks out at Cosmo School in Mirpur following generator explosion
  • Representational image. File Photo: Rajib Dhar/TBS
    Debate arises as edu adviser says postponed HSC exams of 22 and 24 July will be held on same day
  • BB issues dress code for all, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings for female staff
    BB issues dress code for all, discourages short-sleeved or length dresses, leggings for female staff
  • Infographics: TBS
    Stay orders won’t shield defaulters: BB governor 

Related News

  • Businesses see no imminent threat to trade over India-Pakistan conflict
  • 82% businesses find current tax rate unfair, a major challenges: CPD study
  • Make sure your homes, businesses are secured before leaving for Eid holidays: DMP chief tells citizens
  • Commuters bear brunt of fare mismanagement as unfit buses hit roads with pink coats: Jatri Kalyan Samity
  • End of the line: Thousands of passengers stranded, frustrated amid railway staff strike

Features

Photo: Collected

24 July: More than 1400 arrested, 3 missing coordinators found

15h | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

1d | Panorama
Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

2d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Gaza relief workers are being shot at

Gaza relief workers are being shot at

7m | TBS World
Decisions taken by the advisory council in the Milestone School plane crash

Decisions taken by the advisory council in the Milestone School plane crash

22m | TBS Today
Turkey has a dangerous hypersonic missile in its arsenal

Turkey has a dangerous hypersonic missile in its arsenal

1h | TBS World
Bangladesh Bank withdraws dress code guidelines

Bangladesh Bank withdraws dress code guidelines

2h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net