Shopping malls to be shut, not superstores

Super shop owners said they would keep their sales at different outlets on

The Shop Owners’ Association has decided to shutter shopping malls in the capital from March 25 to 31 amid the fears of coronavirus spread, prompting confusion whether the superstores will remain open.

In a press release, the association on Sunday also said kitchen markets, pharmacies and grocery shops will remain open.

Meanwhile, super shop owners said they would keep their sales at different outlets on.

Sabbir Hasan Nasir, executive director, ACI Logistics Limited (Shwapno), told that no decision of shutting down super shops had been taken yet.

Other superstores including Meena Bazaar and Agora also said they would remain open.

Shop Owners’ Association at Dhaka shopping malls came up with the closure decision on Sunday evening, saying, “As the shopping malls became deserted due to the spread of coronavirus, we have decided to keep them closed to save our staff and owners from getting infected.”

In the meantime, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall Shop Owners’ Association decided a temporary shutdown from March 25 to April 2, said the association President MA Hannan.

Footwear manufacturer Bata’s Executive Director Hashim Reza told that they were yet to take any such decision.

“Our outlets at shopping malls will comply with the shop owners’ decision. But the independent outlets will remain open,” said Reza.

He however said their sales dropped drastically owing to the coronavirus fear.