Bashundhara City Shopping Mall in Dhaka is set to reopen today (Thursday), following a resolution to the misunderstandings between the mall's management and its business owners.
Speaking after a meeting with Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan on Wednesday, Shamim Mollah, a mobile business owner at the mall, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“We have always stood by Bashundhara Group, and we will continue to do so. Bashundhara is like a guardian to us, and you can't stay angry with a guardian. They have listened to our concerns and assured us that everything will return to normal,” said Shamim.
The meeting was organized in response to demands for the resignation of the mall's in-charge, which had led to protests by shop owners, traders, and employees. Following the discussions, Shamim encouraged all shop owners and employees to resume business as usual, Daily Sun reports.
“We raised our concerns, and the Chairman met with us. One of our key demands has been met, and we are hopeful that the newly appointed in-charge will swiftly resolve the remaining issues. We are here to do business, and that’s all we want,” Shamim added.
Another mobile business owner, Md. Aslam, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “We protested against one person—the in-charge of Bashundhara City Shopping Mall—due to his behavior. Today, the Honorable Chairman gave us his time, listened to our grievances, and replaced the in-charge. We are now satisfied and proud to conduct business in a prestigious market like Bashundhara City.”
Md. Wahid Murad, another trader, confirmed that the primary issue has been resolved and urged all business owners and employees to reopen their shops on time. He also invited customers who had been inconvenienced over the past two days to return to the mall.
“We are grateful to the Chairman for taking the time to address our concerns despite his busy schedule,” Murad said.
Shahadat Hossain, a long-time business owner at the mall, highlighted the unity among the traders. “We united to demand the removal of a person whose poor decisions were causing us harm. We have always supported Bashundhara City, and we will continue to do so. The new in-charge has assured us that our justified demands will be met. We will fully support him to ensure that the reputation of this renowned market remains intact,” he said.
During the meeting, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan expressed his concern over the disruptions caused by recent protests in various parts of Dhaka. He emphasized the need for peaceful dialogue and urged everyone to contribute to the country's progress.
“After learning about the issue, I took steps to resolve it, and now the misunderstanding has been cleared up. I am hopeful that everyone will work together to alleviate public suffering and restore normalcy. Let's move forward towards a prosperous, disciplined, and inclusive Bangladesh. Dialogue is the key to understanding, and may peace return to everyone's lives,” the Chairman stated.
Business owners, including Abu Saeed Piyas, Alauddin, Md Anwar Hossain, Md Abu Sayem, Dawood Ibrahim Shahadat, Adib Ahmed, and Rabiul Sohain Mintu attended the meeting among others.
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