Restaurants can resume dine-in services at half capacity

Dhaka: The government has allowed restaurants to resume dine-in services but at 50 per cent capacity from May 24, as per the health directives to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Restaurant owners welcomed the decision taken by the government taken on May 23.

The restaurant industry damaged hard by the pandemic expects to recover from their losses due to the new move. However, the restaurateurs are also demanding incentives and soft loans from the SME Foundation to revive from the crisis they suffered.

The government issued a notification on May 23 stating 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 an effort to stop further spread of the coronavirus.

Restaurants and eateries, which until now could operate for takeaway and delivery services, have also been allowed to offer dine-in facilities at half the capacity, said the notification.

In response, Imran Hassan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association (BROA), expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister, saying, “We are happy with the decision of the government. The restaurant sector of Bangladesh is a potential and booming industry. If we get some benefits then it is possible to build this sector to international standards and so is our purpose.”

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.