DIPAN NANDY and SAJJAD HOSSAIN

Around 4,000 owners and 15,000 shop workers, that were affected by the devastating fire at the capital’s Bangabazar about a couple of months ago, are still waiting for their financial compensation.

Traders said the incident led to a damage of Tk 1,000 crore. However, according to Dhaka South City Corporation’s probe committee, the fire damaged 3,845 shops at Bangabazar Shopping Complex and adjacent markets, while the total loss was Tk 303 crore.

To combat the crisis, Bangabazar Shop Owners’ Association had created a fund on April 4. However, no progress has been seen when it comes to distributing the funds as no decision has been made in this regard yet, even with Eid-ul-Azha being just around the corner.

Most of the shop owners were unable to give any bonuses last Eid. Considering the current situation, their employees have to face the same fate this time too, fear traders.

“We cannot continue running our business without financial assistance as we have already incurred significant losses. On top of that, we have to repay loans. We need the compensation as soon as possible,” said Rakib Hossain, owner of MashaAllah Enterprise.

Mohsin, the owner of Allahr Dan Garments, has been suffering living in a menace since the incident. “I came here 15 years ago with an empty pocket and eyes full of dreams. After working day and night for five years, I had finally started my own business to support my wife and children, only to watch it burn down to ashes during the accident. The compensation is our only hope,” he said.

Zahirul Islam, general secretary of the association, said while they have collected funds from various sources, they are yet to distribute any money among the affected traders or issue checkbooks.

Following the fire, an aid provided by the prime minister has already reached the affected workers. However, the traders are yet to receive their aid and thus, are struggling to cope up with paying salaries, allowances and bonuses, informed Zahirul Islam, the general secretary of the association.

“A total of Tk 6,12,19,355 were deposited from various sources in the fund. We are waiting for the prime minister’s fund to arrive but we are uncertain about the its time of arrival. However, things will get better when we receive the funds,” he said.