Mohammad Abdullah, a salesman of Rahat Books at Nilkhet Book Market, was sitting lazily at his store with a gloomy face.
Being asked about the business condition, he said that he could have lived a better life by pulling a rickshaw instead of selling books.
“We can’t even sale 20 percent of books compared to the post lockdown sale of last year”, he said.
“It is better to close the shop rather than keeping it open. At least we could be able to show it as an excuse for the late payment of the shops and the house rent but now this also been closed,” he furthered.
Although Nilkhet Book Market is one of the busiest book markets in the country; it saw a trading downturn since reopening on April 25 following a government order.
Visiting the market on Tuesday The Report saw that the sale executives and the shopkeepers were eagerly waiting for the buyer but nowhere was it seen. Whenever an unknown person was visible to them the salesmen were calling them to buy books from their shops or to visit their shops.
Al least 20 salesmen from different stalls asked this reporter to visit their stalls while walking through the market.
Md. Salah Uddin, Computer Operator of Kalam Printers Computer and Digital Photostat said that he got a single printing job since the reopening as no one is visiting his shop. The situation can improve if the government withdrawn the lockdown and reopen the educational institutions otherwise there is no chance of improvement of this situation.
Md Anik, Manager of Ajijul Books Centre said, “There is no options without closing the shops collectively to avoid the imminent lose. If we can do it hopefully we will be able to get over the financial lose.”
Khokon salesman of Kabir Stationery and Supply said, “At the first day of reopening I have sold tk 120 and till date I sold a total amount of tk 210 after the reopening though it’s been three day after reopening.”
“The government should withdraw the lockdown with a strict supervision of health protocol,” he added.
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