Hundreds of medium and small businessmen across the country took to the streets on the very first day of the seven-day countrywide lockdown, fearing the second consecutive "big losses" just ahead of the two major festivals – Pahela Baishakh and Eid-ul-Fitr.

Ignoring social distancing – many even without masks – they were desperate to make their simple demand heard: To allow them to keep their shops open while maintaining hygiene rules during the lockdown that came into force from yesterday.

Offices and kitchen markets are open, and people are allowed to move in the daytime. Food shops are also open for take-outs. But public transports and shopping malls have to remain shut under the new set of instructions enforced until 11 April.

Facing another abrupt closure of shops within a year was tough for the businesses who put money on and stuffed their shelves for two festival sales that see an estimated Tk30,000 crore in turnover in apparel shops alone.

The businesses, who lost the two festivals – Pahela Baishakh on 14 April and Eid-ul-Fitr in May – in the shutdown last year, had hoped for a better festival season this time.

But the restrictions came as a sudden blow to them.    

The owners of shops at Dhaka New Super Market and adjacent markets, including Gauchhia Market, Mun Mansion Shopping Centre, Ishtiaqe Mansion, Nur Mansion, Hawkers Market and Elephant Road blocked Mirpur Road for an hour on Monday morning for the second consecutive day.

Retailers also demonstrated in Dhanmondi 27 and Mouchak areas in the city, denouncing the lockdown that put them in peril.

They urged the government to give them permission to keep shops open in compliance with all health guidelines. They also threatened to go for tougher movement if their demand is not fulfilled by Tuesday.

Dewan Aminul Islam, president of New Market Shop Owners' Association, told TBS that the pandemic could not be controlled only keeping shopping markets closed without closing the offices and other institutions.

"How can you control coronavirus just by shutting down all the markets when all offices and other institutions are open? Does coronavirus only spread in markets?" Dewan Aminul Ismal questioned.

Owners and employees of various markets, including Gausia Market and its surrounding Moon Mansion Shopping Center, Ishtiaq Mansion, Noor Mansion, Hawkers Market took to the streets amid the lockdown. Most of the protesters wore masks. Some had anti-lockdown slogans on their masks. They have no objection to follow the hygiene rules. But the market must be opened.

Md Ismail, owner of a clothing store at Gauchia Market, said, "Most shops in Gausia sell fabrics on both wholesale and retail bases though most of them are wholesalers. Wholesale clothes sales increase just a few days after Shab-e-Barat."

"I have invested all my savings in my business and taken some loans too. I imported fabrics for the next Eid. But suddenly, the government announced the lockdown. What should I do with these fabrics and clothes now? The same design will not be sold next year!" he added.

Another trader named Masum Khan Sumon, questioned, "If the book fair can continue, why can't the market? Garments and other factories are also open!"

Asked why they have come to the streets, Dewan Aminul Islam said the shop owners have no other options.

"Hunger is more dangerous than coronavirus for small and medium entrepreneurs. Hundreds of shop owners could not enjoy the last two Eid festivals. Why would they suffer the same way this year too?" he added.

The protesters also said they have to pay a huge amount of taxes to import and sell clothes but they do not get any benefits or stimulus.

Last year, their business collapsed due to the pandemic, if this happens this year too, they will not be able to survive, they said.

Meanwhile, in the evening, Dhaka South Shop Owners' Association held a meeting, demanding that the shops be kept open during the lockdown. The next decision will be taken after discussion, said the joint secretary of the Gauchia Market-centric Shop Owners Association Md Mosharraf Hossain.

However, no decision has been taken to keep the shops open till the last news, said Mosharraf Hossain, joint secretary of the Gauchia Market-centric Shop Owners Association.

Abul Hasan, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (New Market Zone), told TBS that agitated businessmen staged a demonstration on the Mirpur road and tried to block the road in front of the Chandrima Supermarket in the Capital.

"Police immediately dispersed them from the road and the traffic situation now is normal," he added.

Md Mosharraf Hossain, joint general secretary of Noor Mansion Market Association, said, "We want the market to be allowed to remain open for a certa