Reopen restaurants

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

They made the demand at a press conference yesterday.

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.

The hotel and restaurant owners are now doing business through takeaway, parcels and online deliveries as per the guidelines of the government. "It is 2 to 3 per cent of the total business," according to the hotel and restaurant owners.

Osman Gani, president of the association, said, "We have to conduct business with licences from 12 organisations of the government. But, we are not getting any assistance or facilities from any organisation as this sector has not been declared as an industry."

Actually, it is not clear whether this sector is under the control of the industries ministry, food ministry or the commerce ministry, he said.

"In such a complex situation, we are being forced to take 15 per cent VAT. This rate is completely unethical," he said.

He also threatened to go for movements across the country if the government does not accept their demands.

In the press briefing, they have claimed that they have so far suffered financial losses of Tk 50,000-60,000 crore due to the pandemic while 30 per cent of the hotels and restaurants have closed and 50 per cent have changed ownership during the pandemic.

The restaurant owners said 75 per cent of the customers returned to the reputed hotels while 50 per cent returned to restaurants after the first wave of Covid-19.

They also placed eight-point proposals to the government, including incentives to workers, short- and long-term loans facilities without interest from the SME sector.

Other proposals include providing electricity, gas and water bills of their hotels and restaurants without surcharge and getting rid of 15 per cent VAT.

Gani further said the authorities should consider the restaurant sector as front-liners of the pandemic as this is a service sector and provide vaccines to the owners and the workers on a priority basis.

Khandaker Ruhul Amin, chief adviser of the association, its Organizational Secretary Sayed Mohammad Andalib were among the others who were present at the press conference.

According to the association, some 30 lakh people work in 60,000 restaurants in divisional cities, districts and upazilas across the country.

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