The Bangabazar traders who were affected by Tuesday’s devastating fire are now pinning their hopes on the assurance given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that they will be provided with financial assistance to make a turnaround.
The businessmen said they will be able to recoup their losses to some extent if they get the assistance.
Accordingly, the traders’ associations started making the lists.
On Wednesday, the affected traders enrol their names standing in a queue near the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.
Earlier in the morning, they formed a human chain there demanding compensation from the government.
Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity, told the Daily Sun that they were satisfied with the assurance of the prime minister to help them financially in the time of their danger.
“The affected traders will be able to make a turnaround with the help,” he said, urging the government to provide the aid as soon as possible.
“We’re making the lists. It’ll take two to three days to complete the lists,” he said.
On completion of the lists, they will submit those to the DSCC, said Kabir, also president of Dhaka Trade Centre Traders’ Association.
Meanwhile, DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will provide financial assistance for the traders affected by the fire.
He made the announcement while talking to journalists after laying the foundation stone of the work for development of the Goran Playground in Khilgaon.
Taposh also revealed that the prime minister had spoken to him and stated that the extent of losses will be assessed before small investors could be provided with adequate funding.
This will enable them to restart their businesses, he said, adding that their priority will be to ensure that the assistance is provided as soon as possible.
On Tuesday, a devastating fire ripped through a number of markets, including Bangabazar Shopping Complex and Adrasha Market, at Bangabazar in the capital, burning down about 5,000 shops.
