Shopping malls across the country will remain closed from Mar 25 to Mar 31 over the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity announced the decision on Sunday (Mar 22).

However, kitchen markets, pharmaceuticals and grocery stores and super-shops will remain open.

The Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity leaders took the decision considering the interest of shop owners and the safety of the workers as well as owners.

“There is no presence of customers in the shopping malls due to the coronavirus panic, while the staffs of the shopping complexes are unwilling to join work places,” said Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity president Helal Uddin.

Since there were no sales and the shop owners have to incur the expenses of utility services charges, the platform of the shop owners decided to shut shopping malls till Mar 31, said Helal.

But kitchen markets, pharmacies and grocery stores and supper shops will remain open for the sake of people so that they can buy daily essential commodities, he added. 

He said further decision will be made after observation till Mar 31.