With only 10 to 11 days left until Eid-ul-Fitr, Bangabazar traders have resumed their business in their makeshift stalls in the hope of making up for the losses they suffered due to the devastating fire on April 4 that burned down the three-storey shopping complex to the ground.
On Wednesday morning, traders were seen bringing wooden benches and setting up in the scorching heat. Some have set up canopies, while others were seen using umbrellas to escape from the raging sun.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh formally inaugurated business activities at the site around 12:45pm.
The market has yet to pick up momentum, though.
The site was prepared on Tuesday under the supervision of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Chief Engineer Saleh Ahmed, led by Zone-1 Regional Executive Engineer Mithun Chandra Shil with the full cooperation of the probe committee formed by DSCC.
Trash and burned items were cleared out, and bricks were laid so that traders could set up their wooden platforms.
Traders primarily said the fire destroyed around 5,000 shops and readymade garments stored in them. Shop owners’ leaders claimed that goods worth around Tk2,000 crore were lost.
However, a report by the investigation committee formed by Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) said that the total amount of goods is estimated at approximately Tk288.350 crore burnt to ashes by this devastating blaze.
Besides, approximately Tk14.70 crore was lost considering the structural aspects, according to the DSCC report.
