Bangladesh restaurant owners have welcomed the government decision to allow restaurants to resume dine-in services while operating at 50 percent capacity as part of reopening after a Covid 19-induced lockdown, Dhaka Tribune reported.

The restaurant owners also demanded incentives and soft loans to revive and make up for the losses.

A government notification on Sunday stated all kinds of public transport, including long-haul services, can operate carrying passengers at half the capacity by maintaining health directives but the government has again extended the ongoing restrictions on public movement and gathering till May 30 midnight in a bid to stop further spread of Covid-19.

The notification also announced the easing of restrictions on restaurants.

Imran Hassan, general secretary of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association (BROA), said they were happy with the notification.
 
“If we get some benefits then it is possible to build this sector to international standards and so is our purpose.”

“A single organization should monitor our industry, rather than multiple state agencies. The government should create this in coordination with safe food authority, consumer rights authority, and the NBR. Then our development will surely accelerate,” he added.

Syed Mohammad Andalaib, organizing secretary of BROA, said it has asked all members to open the restaurants in strict compliance of  all hygiene directives.

We will also monitor, if anyone violates the government decision, we will take legal action immediately against them,” he added.

At the same time, Andalib demanded long-term loans with easy terms and low-interest rates to revive their businesses after incurring massive losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to BROA, there are currently about 60,000 restaurants across the country, with more than 8,000 in the capital alone.

Close to 2.8 million people depend on the restaurant industry for their livelihoods, while the number is several times higher if it includes the supportive sectors.

Trouble began after the outbreak of Covid-19 last year when several restaurants began letting go of staff, while many sold off their businesses. Some were unable to survive and closed shop entirely.
 
Nearly 25-30 percent of the restaurants closed permanently after the first wave of Covid-19, and 50 percent of ownerships were transferred as their original owners could not survive, said the BROA.

(SAM)