Bangabazar traders allowed for makeshift shops before Eid

The Bangabazar traders have heaved a sigh of relief as the authorities concerned have allowed them to set up makeshift shops in the fire-ravaged marketplace ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. 

Firefighters were able to fully douse the fire on Friday morning, 72 hours after the fire broke out at the market, Fire Service Headquarters Deputy Assistant Director (Media) Md Shahjahan Shikder told The Business Standard (TBS), adding that the authorities are now working to clear the debris.

Zahirul Islam, the acting general secretary of the Bangabazar Complex Owners' Association, told TBS, "The debris will be cleared within 24 hours to make the place ready for the shopkeepers so that they can set up temporary shops in tents there."

"The steel structures of the ruined market were sold for Tk40 lakh. The city corporation will distribute the money equally among the affected shopkeepers," he said.

Asked whether all the shopkeepers can be accommodated here, Zahirul Islam said, "No.. not all of them will be here. We will accommodate some traders in the Annexco building. In this way, we will face this crisis together."

"We will also help those traders who lost everything in the fire and do not have money or goods for sale. The bereaved traders will be given goods on credit," he said.

When asked about the extent of the damage, Zahirul said a list is being prepared to calculate the total loss.

"Hopefully, we will be able to complete the list by Saturday and submit it to the city corporation. They are also making a list. Together, we will reveal the extent of damage on Sunday afternoon," the trade leader added.

Visiting the spot Thursday, Salman F Rahman, the private industry and investment adviser to the prime minister, said, "The fire-hit marketplace will be cleaned on Friday and temporary shops will be set up from Saturday. These shops will remain open for the public for at least till Eid."

The opportunity to set up temporary shops and continue business at a crucial time like this one will help the affected merchandisers recover some of the losses they incurred in Tuesday's fire, said traders.

The wood and steel-structured cloth market was completely destroyed by a fire that broke out on 4 April, gutting around 3,500 shops and affecting 5,000 traders.

A total of 48 firefighting units along with Bangladesh Army, Air Force, and Navy personnel worked together with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members to bring the fire under control.