Reopen restaurants, owners urge govt

Bangladesh Restaurant Owners' Association has urged the government to allow them to reopen their hotels and restaurants following health guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

They made the demand at a press conference today.

Imran Hassan, secretary general of the association, said they are going through quite a difficult time. "We do not know what is waiting in future. The restaurant sector is one of the most damaged sectors in this pandemic."

"Our appeal to the prime minister is that she should allow us to run our business by keeping our hotels and restaurants open. Otherwise, we will not be able to keep this sector alive."

He also urged the government to allow them to serve 50 per cent of their capacity if it is not possible to open the hotels and restaurants completely amid the pandemic.

According to the association, some 30 lakh workers work in 60 thousand restaurants in divisional cities, districts and upazilas across the country.

About two crore people are involved in this sector, it said.